“How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”
John 5:44 (ESV)
Six Summer Weeks in John
Week 2, Day 11: John 5:1-47
*Click here for other Six Summer Weeks in John posts.
Humans seek glory.
What is glory?
Glory: praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent : RENOWN; worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving
| praise: | to express a favorable judgment of : COMMEND |
| honor: | good name or public esteem : REPUTATION; a showing of usually merited respect : RECOGNITION |
| distinction: | the quality or state of being excellent or superior : the quality or state of being distinguished or worthy; special honor or recognition; an accomplishment that sets one apart |
| renown: | a state of being widely acclaimed and highly honored : FAME |
Humans like to receive glory from each other.
Good — and tough — questions:
- Do we ever seek to receive glory given by God?
- Do we seek to receive glory given by God more than we seek glory from one another?
- Do any of us seek only to receive glory given by God?
What did Jesus seek?
“I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just, because I seek not My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.”
John 5:30 (ESV)
Jesus sought the will of God the Father.
How did Jesus feel about glory from people?
“I do not receive glory from people.
John 5:41-44 (ESV)
42But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”
Jesus did not receive glory from people. He was offered glory from people, especially when they saw His signs and miracles performed before them, yet He did not receive it — did not take it in hand, sign for the package, or unwrap it. There is something about humans receiving glory from humans that is toxic.
| toxic: | 1. containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation; 3. extremely harsh, malicious, or harmful |
Paul & Barnabas rejected the glory offered to them by people.
“Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And he sprang up and began walking.
11And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, ‘The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!’ 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15‘Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16In past generations He allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.’
18Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.”
Acts 14:8-18 (ESV)
Humans want to get glory & give glory.
We humans want glory; we also want to give glory. Why? I believe it is part of God’s design. Due to our sin and sin nature and the fallen world in which we live, however, we want glory from all the wrong places and want to give it to all the wrong people (a.k.a., anyone besides God!).
Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers: “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and our joy,” (I Thessalonians 2:19-20, ESV).
Like Jesus, the apostle Paul did not receive the glory offered him from the crowds; in fact, he and Barnabas mourned their offer of glory and praise! On the other hand, there was a glory involving people that Paul was very much interested in: the glory and joy of the salvation and sanctification of believers whose lives Paul had been used by God to impact. Paul wants to receive glory for carrying out the Great Commission!
The Glory of the Great Commission
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'”
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
Those we disciple, those we teach to live a life of obedience to Christ, will bring glory to us from God on the day of Christ’s return.
Back to Jesus’ words about glory in John 5…
The word glory is found 19 times in The Gospel of John in the ESV. Keep an eye open for “glory” as you read the rest of John’s Gospel — it is found 13 times after chapter five.
“I do not receive glory from people.
John 5:41-44 (ESV)
42But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”
There is a glory that is given by people.
There is a glory that is given by God.
Jesus says: Seek the glory that comes from the only God! Don’t even receive the glory that comes from man.
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“Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!”
Psalm 105:3 (ESV)
Let us glory in God, in His name and not our own.
May our hearts seek the Lord, not glory for ourselves from other people.
Oh, that we would become people who truly rejoice when God alone is glorified!
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness!”
Psalm 115:1 (ESV)
Do not accept glory from people; Jesus didn’t! Give all glory to God alone.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
I Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
May all we do be done to glorify God! What would it look like if we all completely stopped seeking any glory for ourselves???
Eternal Glory
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
II Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
There is an eternal glory we cannot yet see that we will receive from God that outweighs all the trouble we have in this world — in fact, persevering through these troubles with Christ as our strength, giving glory to God through it all, is part of achieving this eternal glory!
Now, the same verses, different translation:
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
II Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT)
Let’s fix our gaze on eternity.
- Seek God.
- Do all to His glory.
- Look forward to receiving glory from Him.
*For more on the topic of seeking, click on these: Seek the Things That Are Above and What Am I Seeking?