Lent Day 28 [03.21.2026] Hardened Hearts

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. - John 12:24

Scripture: John 12:20-50

The time for Jesus to endure the cross had come near but we want to bring our attention to the kind of words that Jesus chooses to describe what will happen. Rather than using words such as death, darkness, and fear, Jesus provides words such as glorified, honored, and lifted as descriptions of His crucifixion and death. Through this spiritual fortitude, we learn a new perspective regarding the gospel: Jesus did not die as a victim or as one who was defeated by death, Jesus died as a seed that produces life and as the light that draws all the world out of darkness. He chose at every moment to submit His life despite having every right and ability to preserve it, therefore, Jesus endured it all with the sheer willpower to make Himself available to the immense suffering and humiliation of the cross. He was not helpless but bound Himself in love for us.

Despite this and all that Jesus had done; we read today that many still refused to believe in Jesus. The apostle John brings out attention to the prophecy regarding their unbelief found in Isaiah 6:10. God had hardened their hearts and blinded their eyes but why would God cause them to reject Jesus? This reminds us of God’s interaction with Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. God sends Moses to command Pharaoh to set the Israelites free but Pharaoh refuses because of two working conditions: God hardens Pharaoh’s heart and Pharaoh hardens his own heart. There are two ways that God reveals His identity through His people – the hardening or softening of hearts, but both ways are initiated by the worldly and individual disposition rather than the hand of God. Before sending Moses to Pharaoh, God already knows that Pharaoh will not let His people go unless compelled by the very hand of God. We know that Pharaoh’s heart was already hardened, and God allowed this hardening to continue to accomplish a greater cause: to make the name of God greater in all the world. One example, however, of God softening a heart is when Jesus invites Thomas despite his doubt to come and touch His nail pierced hands and wounded side. What is the difference? Thomas had a mind full of doubt not because he despised Jesus, rather because he was grieving.

We find throughout the bible that God uses hardened hearts to reveal His power while using softened hearts to invite and redeem. Could God have unhardened Pharaoh’s heart to let His people go? Of course, but God knew the depth of Pharaoh’s heart and hardened it further so that by the time he let go of Israel, the people of Egypt sent them away with provisions and wealth effectively plundering all of Egypt as if they had conquered it. In our scripture today, through the hardened hearts of the people, God would accomplish His will and place the wrath upon Jesus Christ that not only would the name of God be known, but in knowing that name many would receive eternal life. We are called to maintain a soft heart that is willing to believe and follow Jesus.

Reflection:

1.     When have I hardened my heart towards God and why?

2.     How can I do away with a hardened heart?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for giving me a softened heart. No matter what I go through in this life, help me to keep my heart of flesh and pursue you with thanksgiving and worship. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

제목: 완악해진 마음 (Hardened Hearts)본문: 요한복음 12:20-50

예수님께서 십자가를 감당하실 시간이 가까워졌습니다. 그러나 우리는 이 순간을 설명하시는 예수님의 표현에 주목하고자 합니다. 예수님은 죽음, 어둠, 두려움과 같은 단어 대신, 영광, 존귀, 들림과 같은 표현으로 자신의 십자가와 죽음을 설명하십니다. 이러한 영적 담대함을 통해 우리는 복음에 대한 새로운 관점을 배우게 됩니다. 예수님은 희생당한 피해자처럼 죽으신 것이 아니라, 생명을 맺는 씨앗으로, 그리고 온 세상을 어둠에서 이끄는 빛으로 죽으셨습니다. 예수님은 언제든지 자신의 생명을 보존하실 수 있는 권리와 능력이 있으셨지만, 모든 순간에 자발적으로 자신을 내어주셨습니다. 그분은 무력하셨던 것이 아니라, 우리를 사랑하셔서 스스로 고난과 수치를 감당하신 것입니다.

그럼에도 불구하고, 예수님께서 행하신 모든 일을 보면서도 많은 사람들은 여전히 예수님을 믿지 않았습니다. 사도 요한은 이들의 불신앙이 이사야 6장 10절의 예언과 관련되어 있음을 언급합니다. 하나님께서 그들의 마음을 완악하게 하시고 눈을 멀게 하셨다고 말합니다. 그렇다면 왜 하나님께서 그들이 예수님을 거부하도록 하셨을까요?

이 장면은 출애굽기에서 바로와 하나님 사이의 관계를 떠올리게 합니다. 하나님은 모세를 보내어 바로에게 이스라엘 백성을 놓아주라고 명령하셨지만, 바로는 거부합니다. 이는 두 가지가 동시에 작용했기 때문입니다: 하나님께서 그의 마음을 완악하게 하셨고, 동시에 바로 스스로도 자신의 마음을 완악하게 했습니다. 하나님은 사람들을 통해 두 가지 방식으로 자신의 존재를 드러내십니다—마음을 완악하게 하거나 부드럽게 하시는 것입니다. 그러나 이 시작은 하나님이 아니라 인간의 태도와 세상의 성향에서 비롯됩니다.

하나님은 이미 바로의 마음이 완악하다는 것을 알고 계셨고, 그 완악함을 그대로 두심으로 더 큰 목적을 이루셨습니다. 그것은 하나님의 이름이 온 세상에 드러나게 하는 것이었습니다. 반대로, 하나님께서 마음을 부드럽게 하신 한 예로는 의심 속에 있던 도마를 예수님께서 초대하신 사건이 있습니다. 도마는 예수님을 미워해서가 아니라, 슬픔 속에서 의심하고 있었기 때문입니다.

성경을 통해 우리는 하나님께서 완악한 마음을 통해 자신의 능력을 드러내시고, 부드러운 마음을 통해 초대하시고 구원하신다는 것을 봅니다. 하나님께서 바로의 마음을 부드럽게 하실 수도 있었지만, 그 마음의 깊이를 아셨기에 그대로 두셨습니다. 결국 이스라엘 백성이 떠날 때, 애굽 사람들은 그들에게 재물과 물자를 주어 마치 정복당한 것처럼 떠나보내게 됩니다.

오늘 본문에서도, 사람들의 완악한 마음을 통해 하나님은 자신의 뜻을 이루십니다. 그리고 그 결과로 하나님의 진노는 예수 그리스도께 쏟아졌으며, 그 이름을 아는 자마다 영원한 생명을 얻게 되었습니다. 우리는 부드러운 마음을 유지하며 예수님을 믿고 따르도록 부름받았습니다.

묵상 질문:

1. 나는 언제 하나님을 향해 마음을 완악하게 했으며, 그 이유는 무엇인가?

2. 어떻게 하면 완악한 마음을 버릴 수 있는가?

   
   

기도:

하나님 아버지, 제게 부드러운 마음을 주셔서 감사합니다. 어떤 상황 속에서도 제 마음이 굳어지지 않게 하시고, 감사와 예배로 주님을 따르게 도와주세요. 예수님의 이름으로 기도드립니다. 아멘.