John 5:41-44
Seeking Glory from Others
41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
Mark 9:30-32
Jesus Will Die and Resurrect
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
John 20:13-17
Mary Does Not Recognize Jesus
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
John 21:4
The Disciples Did Not Recognize Jesus
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Luke 24:13-16
Jesus Not Recognized on the Road to Emmaus
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
John 1:10
The World Did Not Recognize Jesus
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
Matthew 8:1-4
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
It is very interesting to me that God sent Jesus to us and there are many times we just did not recognize Him...The most Almighty of all, and yet St. John writes that the world did not recognize Him...And when He healed many of His people, He ask the not to tell anyone that He had healed them...Born in a manger, growing up poor, He lived a quiet, humbled life of a carpenter, and for thirty years really no one gave Him much attention with little or no recognition...
That would change once He starts His ministry and teaching His disciples, but He still did not seek out honor, glory, or recognition (in His ministry)...He was more of an outcast, somewhat aloof, always helping those in need...Jesus always has His mind on set on the eternities, the divine things, and not those things that man desires and wants...In trying to look through His eyes as how He viewed earth, is much different than how we as mankind views earth...The divine and eternal always seems a lifetime away, while our desires are immediate and constantly in our daily thoughts...
Jesus sees things differently, but when we think about it, it seems quite normal to want a nice home, a nice looking car, fashionable clothes and a high paying job...It also seems quite normal and in our very genes to seek popularity, to have the material things we want, to want to be famous, rich, powerful, some praise of others, to seek glory, and to be recognized (at least by those around us)...This seems to be our very nature in how we are brought up and almost instinctive as we grow and age...Man seems to get a desire or want and then we set about on our way to satisfy the desire or want we have...I am not sure Jesus during His ministry, if He even had a house...He traveled mostly by foot, and dressed (as far as we know) quite modestly...Jesus did not seek to be popular...Jesus did not seek to have material things around Him...Jesus did not seek to be famous...Jesus did not seek to be powerful...Jesus did not seek to be praised...Jesus did not come seeking glory from man, and makes that very clear...Jesus did not even seek to be recognized, even though He came from God and is God in the flesh...Somehow (and maybe because He is Divine) He was not bothered by His manly wants and desires (as far as we know), as we are as man and mankind...Jesus could have had any of these things because of who He is, but it is because of who He is -that He did not seek the things we seek...
Man's flesh and desire for the things we want -seems almost addictive...Once we have satisfied one of our desires, another one comes up, and we want more...The next thing you know you have gotten this, and then you want one more thing...And then later you want more...All of your earthly desires, seem to keep coming -maybe a second home, a second car, another computer, newer furniture, something updated, and so it goes on...
Jesus tells us we, as man, also like to seek and have glory from each other, but we do not seek out the glory that comes only from God...We like the man-made and material things hoping we will become content and happy...We like to show our friends our nice things...But these earthly man-made and material things fade and rust in our memories, and then we want the next new and/or different thing, or just something newer...Our Lord knows the heart and it's true motives...We should not put not our needs and concerns of this world ahead of our worship and the glory of God...When we seek His Kingdom (and not these things on earth) with a true and pure heart as Jesus teaches, we better see Him and the Light and the Love that He is...We are then closer to Him...