John 12:42-43 - Homiletics

A movement Christward among the chief rulers.

The unbelief of the Jews was neither total nor final.

I. THE ADHESION OF MANY CHIEF RULERS . "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him."

1. Some of them, like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea, were true believers .

2. Others, probably, were inwardly persuaded that he was the Messiah, but could not bring themselves to an open discipleship. The causes were twofold.

(a) This proves at once the crushing tyranny exercised by Christ's most determined foes, and

(b) the reality of the decree already mentioned ( John 9:22 ).