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Writer's pictureDr. PJ de Bruyn

The search for honour! An obstacle to faith…

Text: John 5: 30-47

Focus: John 5: 44

Jesus reveals a remarkable obstacle to faith here. He says that the Pharisees will not be able to believe because they are too focused on the honour they receive from people, instead of seeking the glory that comes from God.

The highest honour is to hear from God, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matt. 25:23). We were made to do God’s will and to receive the glory from Him. The Fall destroyed that possibility; We are no longer worthy to receive God’s glory.

However, we still have the need to get that recognition from someone, and that’s why we seek it from people. We do good things so that people can express their appreciation of us.

Then Jesus comes and says that this search for approval has become our greatest downfall to true faith. The search for recognition in people makes us look to people for something we can only get from God.

The result is that we no longer seek God’s will, but the will of men (also see vs. 30) and when we try to please people, we will not believe. Satisfying people is totally impossible because people will never be satisfied and we can’t keep everyone satisfied at once. Therefore we will only create stress in our own lives.

In the face of the great burden of pleasing people, honouring Christ is totally different. His yoke is soft and his burden is light, because he doesn’t look at us with a critical eye.

Do you remember what He said in chapter 3? He said: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17).

Jesus has completely satisfied the Father in our place. He was perfectly obedient and with that we were made worthy.

A believer who understands what salvation means will know that it is no longer necessary to please people. Jesus died for us and therefore it will be our highest desire to honour and please Him. In Jesus, we can hear God say: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matt. 25:23).

Therefore, seek the honour of Jesus and not of yourself.

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