| John 12:42-43 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
This commentary by John about the rulers seems to have a contradiction in it. They “believed in Him, but.” John has said this before. There is a natural faith that is not saving faith. Natural faith believes because of what it sees. Like Nicodemus, one of the rulers of the Jews. “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing (John 2:23). “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2). And in John 10:41-42. “Many came to Him and were saying, ‘While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true. Many believed in Him there.’”
To say that they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God is to say that they loved their lives in this world. They didn’t want to lose their position in the synagogue. They believed Jesus was a prophet and from God, but they didn’t believe that He was God in the flesh, THE life, and only way to God. There are many today who are in a similar state. They have accepted Christ and are fine with Him if He will give them a better life in this world, but they don’t believe that He alone is life. Consequently, they, like the rulers in Jesus’ day, hold on to their lives in this world rather than lose their lives to find true Life. This should be a reality check for everyone who says they believe in Jesus. The only way to live to love with Jesus is to believe that He is the Life and surrender your life in this world to Him. Have we given Jesus full access to our lives to live His life and love through us? |