34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:“Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them. 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. 42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
Like the title of a book, named <Praises could make whales dance>, praises play an important role in life, regardless of the ages or genders. However, I don't think that all kinds of praises are always good enough to make people happy or encourage them to do something good. As it affects people negatively, in case they are originated from the intention of cheating, fraud, fame, or money, etc., I don't think it always good.
The Pharisees also wanted to get more praises from others than ones from God, which doesn't reveal to the eyes. I understand that they could do act like that. People live following the benefits or something else, as we do not care about anything unseen, spiritual or heavenly things like that. We do not value it much. But the bible says that we should consider the heavenly things as this earthly lives do not last, but the spiritual lives continue without ending, which is called, the eternal life.
As a Christian, I head up to the Heaven and want to get more praises from God, not from people, though I have the nature of being praises from others. So I am able to live a spiritually free life, as I don't care much about the praises.
However, showing gratitude(thanks)to others and pursuing praises are different. Just a minute ago, I had a time to share our lives at a Zoom chat(English talking time) with sisters, about who affected our lives. I said that we have to give our thanks to the ones who spent time and energy and money for us quickly because we never know the time when we have to say good-bye to them forever.
