Jesus did plenty of miracles, many believed because of them, and many would still not see the miracles as the signs they were (Pharisees and other religious leaders mostly). But some leaders did believe in Him. There's a catch though- they wouldn't confess their faith because they were afraid they would be kicked out of the synagogue. John 12:43 says this about the leaders who believed;
"For they loved the approval and the praise and the glory that come from men [instead of and] more than the glory that comes from God. (They valued their credit with men more than their credit with God)."
They cared more about getting ousted from the silly synagogue than ousted from their relationship with the God of the synagogue- ludicrous, isn't it? I kinda wonder what happened to them... Jesus says that if we are ashamed of Him now he will be ashamed when he comes in his glory (Luke 9:26) and that whoever acknowledges Him here and now He will acknowledge before his Father in Heaven, and whoever disowns him, that person will he disown (Matthew 10:32-33). So where does that leave people who won't confess their faith for fear of people?
It's nice to get acknowledged by important people here on earth, but it would be far better to be acknowledged by Jesus before his Father in Heaven...
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If you are inclined to make your secret devotions short, or are easily induced to neglect them; or if your thoughts, affections, and emotions wander, you may know that you are a backslider in heart, and your first business is to be broken down before God, and to see that your love and ZEAL are renewed. ~Charles Finney
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