(Jhn) 12:25-26, 32, 42-43 CJB “He who loves his life loses it, but he who hates his life in this world will keep it safe right on into eternal life! If someone is serving me, let him follow me; wherever I am, my servant will be there too. My Father will honor anyone who serves me. As for me, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” Nevertheless, many of the leaders did trust in him; but because of the P’rushim they did not say so openly, out of fear of being banned from the synagogue; for they loved praise from other people more than praise from God.”

Every Christian man must eventually decide whose approval matters most: the approval of people or the praise of God.

Jesus puts that decision in the context of losing our lives, serving Him, and openly identifying with Him. The contrast in John 12 is striking. Jesus was willing to be lifted up publicly on a cross to accomplish our salvation, while some who believed in Him were unwilling even to acknowledge Him publicly because they feared what it might cost them.

They wanted to preserve their lives.

Jesus calls His servants to surrender theirs.

Serving Jesus Means Proclaiming Jesus

Jesus says, “If someone is serving me, let him follow me.”

Following Jesus means surrendering ownership of our lives to Him. Salvation itself is entirely by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work. We don’t earn eternal life through obedience, service, or public confession.

But saving faith produces evidence.

One important evidence is our willingness to identify with the One in whom we claim to believe.

Jesus said: “As for me, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

John explains that Jesus was speaking about His death. Christ would be lifted up on the cross, where He would give His life to accomplish the Father’s saving purpose.

Only Jesus could accomplish that work.

But His servants have been entrusted with proclaiming the Christ who was lifted up.

We lift up His name before men. We proclaim His death and resurrection. We tell people that reconciliation with God is found through faith in Jesus Christ.

And sometimes doing that costs us something.

Will You Choose the Praise of God?

John tells us that many leaders believed in Jesus, “but…they did not say so openly.”

Why?

Fear.

They feared being removed from the synagogue. Publicly identifying with Jesus could cost them their position, relationships, reputation, and standing in their community.

Then John exposes the deeper issue: “They loved praise from other people more than praise from God.”

That is the danger for us too.

We may say we believe in Jesus while carefully avoiding mentioning Him at work. We may protect relationships by remaining silent about the Gospel. We may worry that people will think we are too religious, too radical, or too narrow.

So we preserve ourselves by hiding Jesus.

But Jesus says the one who loves his life loses it.

The question isn’t whether publicly proclaiming Jesus earns salvation. It doesn’t.

The question is whether a life consistently unwilling to identify with Christ provides evidence that it truly belongs to Christ.

Jesus said, “My Father will honor anyone who serves me.”

There are eternal consequences to how we live the life God has given us. Scripture teaches that believers will appear before Christ to have their works evaluated (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:12–15). Our salvation rests completely upon Christ, while our service to Christ has eternal significance.

So whose reward are you pursuing?

The approval of men lasts only as long as men do.

The praise of God has eternal value.

Don’t Hide the One Who Was Lifted Up

Jesus didn’t hide His identity to preserve His life.

He gave His life.

He was lifted up.

He accomplished salvation.

And now His servants have the privilege and responsibility of proclaiming Him so others can hear, believe, and receive eternal life.

Christian man, don’t spend your life protecting yourself from what people might think about your Savior.

Lose your life serving Jesus by proclaiming Jesus.

Run Today’s Play

Ask yourself:

Where am I keeping Jesus quiet because I fear people more than I desire the praise of God?

Think specifically—your workplace, neighborhood, family, golf group, friendships, or business relationships.

Then identify one person today who needs to hear about Jesus.

Tell him who Jesus is. Tell him what Christ has done. Tell him why you trust Him. Invite him to put his faith in the One who was lifted up for sinners.

Don’t hide the One who was lifted up to save you.

Proclaim Christ. Serve Christ. Lose your life for Christ. And seek the praise of God rather than the praise of men.