QT 18/09/2026 Fri John 12:37–50 Choose God’s Glory Over Man’s Approval. 选择神的荣耀，而非人的认可。

QT 12/09/2026 Fri John 12:37–50 Choose God’s Glory Over Man’s Approval.
READ https://www.esv.org/john12:37-50/

Don’t Let the Fear of People Keep You in the Dark. What if the greatest danger to your faith isn’t doubt—but caring more about what people think than what God thinks? John 12 reveals the danger of choosing human approval over God’s glory. Today, let’s discover why Jesus calls us out of darkness and into His light.

John 12 presents a sobering picture: Jesus had performed “so many signs” before the people, yet “they still did not believe in him” (v. 37). The problem was not a lack of evidence. They had seen His works, heard His words, and witnessed His glory, yet many still refused to believe.

Isaiah’s prophecy reveals the seriousness of unbelief. Persistent rejection of God can result in a hardened heart that becomes increasingly resistant to the truth (vv. 38–40). This is a warning that we should never treat unbelief lightly. The more we resist God's light, the more difficult it becomes to see our need for Him.

Yet John gives another sobering example. Some of the authorities “believed in him,” but they were unwilling to confess Him publicly because they feared the Pharisees. Why? “For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God” (v. 43).

This exposes a temptation that can affect even those who intellectually believe in Jesus: the fear of people can become greater than the fear of God. Jesus then declares that He has come as light into the world:

“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (v. 46)

Jesus does not merely give us information about God. He reveals the Father. “Whoever sees me sees him who sent me” (v. 45). To believe in Jesus is to believe in the One who sent Him.

But Jesus also makes clear that His words demand a response. He came to save, not to condemn the world (v. 47), yet rejection of His words carries eternal consequences. His very word will testify against those who reject Him “on the last day” (v. 48).

The wonderful truth is that the Father's commandment is “eternal life” (v. 50). Jesus speaks exactly what the Father has commanded because His mission is to bring people out of darkness and into life.

Reflection

The question is not simply, “Do I believe that Jesus exists?” The deeper question is, “Whose glory do I desire?”

We can know about Jesus and still be tempted to remain silent because we fear what people may think. We can hear His Word and still refuse to obey it because we value human approval more than God's approval.

John 12 therefore calls us to examine our hearts: Am I living for the glory that comes from people, or for the glory that comes from God? Jesus is the Light. We do not need to remain in darkness. We do not need to hide our faith because of fear. And we do not need to seek our ultimate identity in human approval.

Believe in Christ. Walk in His light. Obey His Word. And seek the glory that comes from God rather than the praise of people.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending Jesus, the Light of the world. Help us to believe in Him, obey His Word, and never allow the fear or approval of people to become more important than Your glory. Give us courage to walk in Your light and faithfully follow Christ each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

QT 18/09/2026 星期五 约翰福音 12:37–50 选择神的荣耀，而非人的认可。
阅读 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john 12%3A37-50&version=CNVS

不要让惧怕人的心把你困在黑暗中。倘若你信仰面临的最大危险并非怀疑——而是更在意别人的看法，而非上帝的看法呢？《约翰福音》第12章揭示了选择人的认可而非上帝的荣耀所带来的危险。今天，让我们来探索耶稣为何呼召我们走出黑暗，进入祂的光中。

《约翰福音》第12章描绘了一幅发人深省的画面：耶稣在众人面前行了“许多神迹”，然而“他们仍然不信他”（第37节）。问题并不在于缺乏证据。他们亲眼看见了祂的作为，亲耳听见了祂的话语，也亲眼见证了祂的荣耀，但许多人仍然拒绝相信。

以赛亚的预言揭示了不信的严重性。持续地拒绝神会导致心硬，从而越来越抗拒真理（38–40节）。这是对我们的警告：我们绝不可轻视不信。我们越是抵挡神的光，就越难看清自己对祂的需要。

然而，约翰又举了一个发人深省的例子。有些有权有势的人“信了他”，却因惧怕法利赛人而不愿公开承认祂。为什么呢？“因为他们爱人的荣耀，过于爱　神的荣耀”（第43节）。

这揭示了一种诱惑，甚至那些在理智上相信耶稣的人也会受到影响：对人的惧怕可能会超过对神的敬畏。随后，耶稣宣告祂是以光之姿降临世上的：

“我是光，我到世上来，叫所有信我的不住在黑暗里。”（第46节）

耶稣并非仅仅向我们提供关于神的知识，而是向我们显明天父。 “看见我的，就是看见那差我来的。”（第45节）信耶稣，就是信那差遣祂的。

但耶稣也明确指出，祂的话语要求人们作出回应。祂来是要拯救世界，而不是定世界的罪（第47节），然而拒绝祂的话语将带来永恒的后果。在“末日”（第48节），祂的话语本身将作为见证，控告那些拒绝祂的人 。

奇妙的真理在于，天父的诫命就是“永生”（第50节）。耶稣所说的正是天父所吩咐的，因为祂的使命是带领人从黑暗中进入生命。

反思

问题不仅仅在于“我是否相信耶稣的存在？”，更深层的问题是：“我渴慕的是谁的荣耀？”

我们可能了解耶稣，却仍因惧怕他人的看法而选择沉默；我们可能听见祂的话语，却仍因更看重人的认可而非神的认可而拒绝顺服。

因此，《约翰福音》第12章呼吁我们省察内心：我活着是为了来自人的荣耀，还是为了来自神的荣耀？耶稣就是那光。我们无需停留在黑暗中，无需因恐惧而隐藏自己的信仰，也无需在人的认可中寻求我们最终的身份。

信靠基督。行在祂的光中。遵行祂的话语。并寻求来自神的荣耀，而非人的称赞。

祷告

天父，感谢祢差遣耶稣——这世界的光。求祢帮助我们信靠祂，遵行祂的话语，永不让人的惧怕或认可凌驾于祢的荣耀之上。求祢赐给我们勇气，使我们行在祢的光中，每日忠心跟随基督。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。