Promises Kept

36 When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
John 12:36b-43
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Promises Kept
The Word of God remains true. It always accomplishes the thing for which it was sent. God keeps every promises he makes. When we see the rainbow in the clouds, we should always be reminded of this: God keeps his promises. He chooses to deal with our sin with this Word. This Word becomes flesh and dies on the cross to free us from sin, death, and the devil. This Word made flesh rises again even as he defeats death and puts it in its grave. He speaks absolution to you even as he adds his Word to the water of your Baptism and the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. God always keeps his Word. He manifests his glory as his Word is bestowed on his people. Only by faith do we grab ahold of this glory and deny the earthly glory. Only by the gifts of the Holy Spirit are we strengthened for the task and made new in him.