Gospel of John Student Devotionalනියැදිය

Near the end of John, chapter 8, The Pharisees have an argument with Jesus. These Pharisees are accusing Jesus of false testimony. But Jesus responds to them by putting emphasis on the fact that He (Jesus) doesn’t seek personal glory and he doesn’t speak out of his own will, but according to the will of God, the one who sent him. Jesus said “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing.” (John 8:54 ESV) Jesus makes it clear that if we seek personal glory when talking about him, that glory means nothing, it’s empty.

If you flip the page in your bible to John, chapter 9, you’ll hear the story of Jesus healing a blind man. Jesus heals this blind man by spitting in the dirt and rubbing mud into the man's eyes. When the man washed his eyes, his vision was restored. When the people of the town asked the man about his testimony and how he could now see, the once blind man immediately pointed to Jesus saying in verse 9:11 that there was “a man named Jesus who anointed his eyes.” The blind man experienced a miracle. He was blind. He met Jesus and then he could see. This man could’ve chosen to make his healing all about himself but instead he chose to glorify God and give praise and credit to Jesus rather than talking about these good works for personal gain.

When you think or talk about Jesus is your heart driven by self-interest or is it the desire to give all glory to God? Ask God to challenge you this week by guiding your thoughts and actions so that all glory goes to Him.