Anchor My Faith

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Author: Stephen Weller
614 words, 3 minutes read time

From Whom Do We Seek Glory?

Scripture: John 12:41-43

In the previous lesson we considered the tension between the responsibility of man and the sovereignty of God concerning belief. In this lesson we will find that some do believe.

^{Jn 12:41} Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.

The “things” that Isaiah said refers back to the quotes Jesus made from Isaiah 53:1 and Isaiah 6:10. Since Jesus mentions Isaiah and selects a verse from two ends of the book, this provides evidence that the entire book was written by Isaiah, not two people as some think. Through revelation, God allowed Isaiah to see into the future and see the exalted King and the suffering servant, and in seeing them, he saw the glory of Jesus Christ.

^{Jn 12:42} 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.

In spite of this general hardness of heart, there were those who believed among the people, even some of those in authority believed, but because they feared the Pharisees they did not openly confess their belief. Knowledge of this belief by the Pharisees would have resulted in them being put out of the synagogue. An example of this was the man born blind that Jesus healed. When he was questioned by the Pharisees and found to believe in Jesus he was cast out of the synagogue (John 9:30 – 34).

These Pharisees who believed but did not confess their belief publicly because “they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” A similar thing happens today in countries of persecution. Because of fear of being mistreated, even death, some conceal their belief. However, if one grows in their faith, it is like a woman who is pregnant who show signs of being pregnant, their faith will become evident.

In Jesus was life and as we believe and are born spiritually, that life enters us and provides light (John 1:4). That light overcomes the darkness of our soul (John 1:5) and is not to be hid, but allowed to shine before others, “so that they may see [our] good works and give glory to [our] Farther who is in heaven “(Matthew 5:16 ESV). As we allow that light to shine, we are not to “fear those who [can] kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28 ESV).

If we ²⁰ “do good and suffer for it [and] endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:20 – 21 ESV). In our comfortable western culture, we seek to maintain that comfort and thus we are not inclined to be willing to suffer as a testimony of our faith, and as a result, we fail to do that which is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

Conclusion

Who do we seek glory from? Do we seek glory from others, or do we seek glory that comes from God? What will be the effect of our choice when it comes time to appear at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10)?