John 12:37 – Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. 42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God. (NIV)
When we think of the term ‘peer pressure’, we usually think of teenagers and the things they do to ‘fit in’. Peer pressure is not limited to the young! We all face peer pressure. We face peer pressure because we want others to accept us. No one wants to be disliked or rejected, and so we often choose our words carefully so as not to upset others. Indeed, we should choose our words carefully, and we should try to get along with others, but there is a line we must not cross. When we cross that line, we have compromised our belief that Jesus as our Lord.
In today’s reading, we are told that some of the Jewish leaders believed in Jesus, but were fearful of what others would say. We are told in verse forty-three that they loved human praise. Are there times when we love human praise more than we love Jesus? Or, are there times we seek human approval? Are there times when we go along with the off color jokes instead of speaking up because we fear what others may think of us? Are there times when we join in the gossip so that we can be included in the conversation? Are there times when we do not stand upon what we know is right because we ‘love human praise’? When we act in these ways, we have given into peer pressure, and have compromised our belief that Jesus is our Lord.
Jesus is our ‘Lord and Savior’. It’s relatively easy to live with Jesus as our Savior. A Savior saves us from the power of sin, but a Lord calls for us to live differently than the rest of the world. It’s difficult, at times, to live as if Jesus is our Lord. Today, let’s not give into peer pressure. Let’s affirm by word and action that Jesus is our Lord!
Posted by Ramón Torres
for they loved human praise more than praise from God. (NIV)
I’ve read this before, obviously quickly, but today as I read it, it hit home. It reminds me why I spend less and less time on Insta & FB. I used to justify it by telling myself I’m so far away from family this is a way to share. But every time I posted I had to keep looking to see how many likes and responses I had gotten.
Thank you!