John 12:36b-50
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”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:
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.
44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
0 “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Reflection
John tells us that there were many Jewish authorities who actually believed in Jesus, but they were afraid to express their faith publically (John 12:42). If seeing and believing in Jesus is the equivalent of seeing and believing in God the Father (vv. 44–45), then what could possibly drive a person to hide their faith in such a magnificent person? John explains the root of the problem: “they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God” (v. 43).
Here we glimpse the depth of the sickness of the human heart. The desire to be praised by others can motivate a person to do things that are quite simply insane. Thankfully, the grace of Christ can change the sin-infected heart and reorient our desires to value and live for what is best. When God enables us to see Jesus for the Treasure he truly is, we will joyfully forsake anything that stands in the way of having him (cf. Matt. 13:44), regardless of what people think of us.
Hebrews 12:1-2
12: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Reflection
The writer appeals to the “hall of faith” in chapter 11 to motivate his hearers and future generations: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . . let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). These men and women have set us an example of what it looks like to truly walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).
But Hebrews does not only provide these heroes for motivation to run the race; it also points us to the ultimate model. We are to run “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (v. 2). Jesus is the supreme example of a faith that looks to the reward and endures to the end. As we set our eyes on the One who gave his life for us, he will give us his strength to run the race with endurance.
Psalm 8:1
8: O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
What can protect us from living for the praises of others? Only the superior joy of knowing Jesus Christ. Pray that you would see the glory of God’s grace more clearly today, and that living for the praise of his name would be the greatest desire of your heart.