But though he (Jesus) had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake;

“Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?“

Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again;

“He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.“

These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

John 12:37-43

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

They (the Pharisees) answered and said unto him (Jesus), Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. 

Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself,

Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John 8:39-47

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

On an occasion when the renowned 19th-century evangelist D.L. Moody shared his faith with a stranger, this man aggressively told him to “mind his own business.” Moody quietly replied, “That is my business.”*

Another popular anecdote often recounted by Moody goes as follows:

A layman (or DL Moody himself) approached a woman and asked if she knew Christ. When the woman recounted the interaction to her husband, he was annoyed and asked, “Why didn’t you tell him to mind his own business?” She answered: “You would have thought it was his business.” *

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts 11:26

The disciples were publicly called Christians, because this was their chief business.**

What is your chief business?

*D.L. Moody Life anecdotes – Public Domain

**WE Vines Expository Dictionary of Old & NT Words – pg 87.

The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost. Matthew 18:11; Luke 19:10

Lost – apollumi – its meaning comes from two words: the first (622)* – to cut off/to amputate; the second (3039)* – to grind to powder.
Hence in the active voice; to destroy, to perish, kill.**

The wages of sin is death.

The soul that sinneth, it shall surely die.

Physical death is separation from the body. Spiritual death is separation from God.

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

*Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible – Greek Ref. 622 & 3039.

**WE Vines Expository Dictionary of Old & NT Words – pg 380.