From my reading in John 12:27-50 in the One Year New Testament.
There were many “secret believers” in Jesus day.
They believed in Jesus but they were to scared of what they would lose if they were open about their faith.
“Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.” John 12:42–43
Who are you trying to please, God or others?
When we focus on pleasing others more than God it stops us from doing what God wants us to do.
When we live for the approval of others we become paralyzed by fear and will be unwilling to risk for Jesus.
Jesus was living to please the Father, not others.
Some things Jesus did and said made him wildly popular others made people want to kill him. He spoke the truth wether it was liked by others or not.
We should follow Jesus and live to please God and stop worrying so much about what others think.
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