John 12:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

NIV: for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

NASB: for they loved the approval of people rather than the approval of God.

CSB: For they loved human praise more than praise from God.

NLT: For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

KJV: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

NKJV: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

The vast majority of the nation of Israel rejected Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah. This was predicted by Old Testament prophets like Isaiah (Isaiah 53). Among the religious leaders, most ignored the obvious evidence in order to oppose Him (John 5:31–47). In fact, the leaders of Jerusalem were so committed to rejection of God that they responded to a miraculous resurrection by plotting the assassination of the restored man (John 12:9–11).

Some of those religious elites were more receptive. Nicodemus had visited Jesus to ask more about His teachings (John 3:1–15). Nicodemus also spoke up in favor of giving Jesus a fair and honest hearing (John 7:50–51). However, his peers had made it clear that anyone who openly supported Jesus was going to be excommunicated (John 9:22). So, men like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38–39) kept their faith a secret.

John's condemnation is harsh, but hard to argue with. Sincere or not, neither Nicodemus nor Joseph were willing to step out in full support of their beliefs. Both seem to have done so after Jesus was killed. Joseph might even have spoken up during the sham trials yet to come (Luke 23:50–51). Still, at this time, they opt to maintain their status and the "glory that comes from man" rather than fully following God (Luke 9:23).

John 12:27–43 represents the end of Jesus' public ministry in the gospel of John. After being approached by non-Jewish people who believed in God, Jesus seems agitated as He anticipates His impending death. A voice from heaven affirms His mission, but to most people it simply sounds like noise or thunder. What Jesus means as a reference to crucifixion is misinterpreted by many as a prediction that He'll be exalted: to be ''lifted up.'' The people struggle to understand His message, and Jesus will leave them after warning that their time is short. This confirms Old Testament prophecies and reiterates how far some people will go in order to defy evidence of God.

Jesus is treated to an honorary dinner at the home of Lazarus, whom He has recently raised from death. At this dinner, Lazarus' sister, Mary, anoints Jesus with expensive oil. Jesus then enters Jerusalem to great fanfare, stoking fears that His popularity will attract the anger of the Roman Empire. That anger even inspires a murder plot against Lazarus. After being approached by non-Jewish seekers, Jesus offers a final plea for people to understand His ministry. In effect, these are the last public words spoken by Jesus in the gospel of John.

In the prior chapter, Jesus spectacularly raised Lazarus from death in front of a crowd of witnesses. This inspired local religious leaders to commit to having Him killed. Here, after a celebratory dinner where Jesus is anointed with oil, He will fulfill prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, celebrated with shouts of ''Hosanna'' and a massive crowd. This leads to a group of curious non-Jews approaching Him. Christ then offers a final plea for belief in Him and His message. After this, His ministry will turn to preparing the disciples for His impending death and resurrection. The next several chapters of the gospel of John are almost entirely made up of his teachings to these men.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.