Whose Glory is More Important?

Last time we met we saw Jesus with a troubled heart, but a determination to fulfill his purpose.   Today we see unbelief in John 12:37-43.

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,
40
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

This section starts with the worlds “when Jesus had said these things“

What things?  The previous verses have these words : “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Anyways, he said those words and then he disappeared, we are told he left and hid himself.   We read the sad words that even though Jesus had done many signs, people still didn’t believe in him.   This was to be expected since Isaiah had foretold this. 

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

and

40
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”

Do you see it?   God blinded eyes, and hardened hearts.   God’s choice.   I have to admit, I don’t quite get it.  Why would God do that?  Why wouldn’t he want people believe in him?   I know that he is gracious, kind, and loving to his children that he calls by name. He heals our wounds and eases our sorrows.   So why wouldn’t he let eyes be open and hearts be soft? 

I had to ponder this for a while so I went and did some dishes and laundry.  Busy hands help my mind to settle and think. 

Perhaps the reasoning is found in verse 42 where many did believe in him but didn’t make any sign of it because they were afraid of the Pharisees. They valued their positions and the opinions of others over God.  God wants people that believe in him fully, that don’t let fear stop them from declaring their faith. 

It leads me to the question.   Whose glory is more important?

God knows whose glory we will seek.  So hearts are hardened who won’t truly seek after his glory. Eyes are closed for those who won’t put God first in their lives. He knows long before we even think about it.

What a reason to praise God eh?   Those who believe in him.  He knew even before we did that our hearts would seek after him and his ways.  That we would want to God’s glory known more than the opinions of others. 

The question left for me then is this: Do I act in a way that shows what God knows?   Do I seek after God’s glory or do the opinions of those around me matter more than God?   Am I letting him down?  He knows my heart and so called me to him, is my heart showing forth to the world, honouring God’s glory?