John 12:43

‘they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise’
(John 12:43)

It was towards the end of Jesus’ time in ministry, which had included much teaching accompanied by miraculous ‘signs’(John 12:37&20:30), all pointing to the fact that He was ‘the Christ, the Son of God’(John 20:31). There had been ‘much murmuring among the multitudes’(John 7:12ff.) too, and ‘“the rulers”’(John 7:48ff.&12:42), regarding these astonishing events. Especially these religious leaders, like the ‘chief priests… and the pharisees’(John 11:47ff.) ‘didn’t believe in Him’(John 12:37), because they were blind ‘“and hardened”’(John 12:40) spiritually, and consumed by self-interest: ‘“everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away… our place”’(John 11:48). However, there were some amongst the leaders who did believe, ‘but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue’(John 12:42, cf. 9:22). John’s divinely inspired comment here rebukes that sort of attitude and behaviour, which might take root in any of us, identifying it as loving ‘men’s praise more than God’s praise’ – closely related to the ‘fear’(John 7:13) of man.

However, before we conclude that all low-profile, secretive behaviour is inappropriate for the Christian, we must balance this against other divinely inspired scripture, not least the teaching and example of Jesus Himself! He seems to have been pretty low profile about His identity until reaching ‘about thirty years’(Luke 3:23) of age, although there had been signs pondered by ‘Mary’(Luke 2:19, cf. 2:51) and others earlier. Even the first of His miraculous ‘signs’(John 2:11) seems to have been somewhat undercover at the time, only a few of those present being aware of what He’d done, apparently at least partly because His time had ‘“not yet come”’(John 2:4). On a later occasion Jesus’ explained to His brothers the importance of timing with regard to such things, when they accused Him of doing too much ‘“in secret”’(John 7:4ff.). Once He told a cleansed lepper to ‘“say nothing to anybody”’(Mark 1:44, cf. 3:12, etc.), but the lepper disobeyed, the consequence being that Jesus could no longer ‘openly enter into a city’(Mark 1:45). Wisdom dictates that there can be ‘a time to keep silence, and a time to speak’(Ecclesiastes 3:7).

Moreover, Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount teaches the virtue of ‘“secret”’(Matthew 6:4,6&18) prayer, fasting and giving. No doubt the same could be said for other spiritual disciplines and Christian activities. So being secretive and low profile about our faith can certainly be appropriate at times.

Nevertheless, in that same sermon Jesus proclaimed: ‘“let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven”’(Matthew 5:16), and clearly Jesus Himself was on display at that point too, ultimately keeping ‘“nothing… secret”’(John 18:20) regarding His identity and teaching. His people should stand with Him, certainly not ‘ashamed’(2 Timothy 1:8; Romans 1:16), rather with the ‘“boldness”’(Acts 4:29&31) displayed by ‘Peter… John’(Acts 4:13) and the other disciples, at least later. We must heed Jesus’ words: ‘“whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of Him, when He comes in His Father’s glory, with the holy angels”’(Mark 8:38). It’s of note though that it’s ‘His glory’(John 1:14) that we’re to proclaim and put on display, not ourselves (as much as we can avoid it) – for example John deliberately avoided naming himself in his own gospel account.

So there’s a right balance to be found between wise, appropriate concealment and bold proclamation, being a light and yet not loving the limelight. Our hearts can be very ‘“deceitful”’(Jeremiah 17:9), so discerning the right approach is not always easy, but often examining our motives is the key. This verse offers one good test for us to consider. Are we seeking ‘men’s praise more than God’s praise’?

Seeking the praise of others or fearing what they might think or do are certainly the wrong things to be driven by. Interestingly, praise-seeking or fear could drive us in opposite directions, highlighting the importance of examining our motives not simply choices. So, we should ask ourselves, ‘am I striving to please men? … if I were… I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ’(Galatians 1:10), and bear in mind that the ‘fear of man proves to be a snare’(Proverbs 29:25).

The truth is that the ‘fear of Yahweh [God] is the beginning of wisdom’(Proverbs 9:10) and will lead us to wise choices. Positively, we should delight to please our Heavenly Father, as best we can discern His will. That obviously explains Jesus’ life plan. So let’s proceed likewise, ‘not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts’(1 Thessalonians 2:4).

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