Whose Praise Do You Choose?

After returning home on Tuesday, I have had early morning meetings the last three days. That has been unusual for my regular schedule. I did enjoy attending a Local Legislative Committee meeting with the Fort Collins Chamber and hearing a presentation by County Commissioner Tom Donnelly.

After some office work that took longer than anticipated, I had another fitness center workout with my trainer. It went better today than on Wednesday when I a forgot to take my midday medications.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.”  John 12:42,43 NCV

If there was a group that was threatened and intimidated by Jesus it was the Pharisees. The raising of Lazarus from the dead was the turning point miracle in Jesus ministry. When the Pharisees heard of it their sense of being threatened was evident. They responded, “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him.” (John 11:47,48 NCV)

While they stated their concern was for the security of the nation, it was really their own security and authority they held over the people they were concerned about. As people began to believe in Jesus it presented them a challenging choice. To believe in Jesus was to incur the wrath of the Pharisees. We see when Jesus healed the man blind from birth his parents were afraid of the Pharisees because, “the Jewish leaders…had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue.” (John 9:22 NCV)

This put pressure on those among the religious leaders of the day. Two of note are Nicodemus and Joseph of  Arimathea. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night as recorded in John 3. Later when the Temple guards returned without arresting Jesus, the Pharisee rulers asked, Have any of the leaders or the Pharisees believed in him? No!” (John 7:48 NCV) What is interesting is, Nicodemus was in the group. He tried to speak up, but was quickly put down by the others.

Joseph from Arimathea is known for being the one who “loaned” a tomb for Jesus burial. But we see some insight into his background. “Joseph of Armiathea asked Pilate if he could take the body of Jesus. (Joseph was a secret follower of Jesus, because he was afraid of some of the leaders.)”    (John 19:38 NCV) Joseph was a “secret” follower of Jesus, but when Jesus died on the cross his courage was strengthened. Mark’s gospel records that he, “went boldly to Pilate..” (Mark 15:43 NIV)

So we see along with the women, these two “secret followers” of Jesus were responsible for providing the spices and burial place for Jesus. Though they had been silent in the past, they were willing to step up and take action.

Solomon tells us, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”  (Prov. 29:25 NIV) Being praised and respected by people is not bad. But when it comes to valuing human opinion and status over God’s….that is a problem.

Jesus stood up to the intimidation of the Pharisees and said, “Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don’t have God’s love within you.” (John 5:41,42 NCV) When it comes to the approval and praise of people, it is godly people whose opinion counts the most.

The praise of people or of God. Many today, are intimidated into silence because of “what others might think” if they stand up for Christian values or even let others know of their faith. At times these modern day Pharisees make people believe that it is “their” opinion or approval that is the most important to achieve status or success.

It is for the timid in their faith that the words of Paul to Timothy are important to remember, God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NCV) The words of Jesus are challenging and important for us to remember, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38 NIV).

May the Lord give us all, the courage and wisdom and love to be those who stand strong for Christ and reflect Him well to those around.