Loving Human Praise

Fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy, this section begins with a startling statement: “Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.” Many contemporary readers read this and think, “I would have responded differently.” But would we? Or would we succumb to the same temptations they faced: “But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God” (v. 43). Peer pressure, regardless of our age, is still one of the strongest forces that influences our own decisions. To follow Jesus is to value his opinion above all others.

Passage: John 12:37-50