43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Fear of man is an interesting, yet crippling sin to carry.  In verses 42-43, a sad revelation of the "authorities" is read and obviously perceived in their entanglement with Jesus' death.  They believed in Jesus BUT because they feared the Pharisees, "they did not confess it".  This particular case of fear of man, was so bad, that it took a life (indirectly), and all because "they loved the glory that [came] from man".  You see, what made these people in authority happy, was the gratification, contentment that came from man, they could not see how contentment from God was all satisfying.  Yes, perhaps they said it and taught it, but their hearts were far from it (Isa 29:13).

My mind knows this and teaches it, but many times it does not hit my hard heart.  I am often easily deceived by the cares, and desires of this world. I often desire "glory that comes from man" and consciously reject the contentment God brings.  Why?  Well, 1) I am a sinner and get carried it away by my selfish desires and 2) I believe a lie.  I forget the promises God has made in his Word (Romans 8:28, Hebrews 11: 6, Ps 1:3, etc) and choose the gleaming, nice red apple (not that Eve necesarily ate an apple) and discard what my preciously LORD has said and promised through Christ his Son.  If God, "did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" (Rom 8:32) then how can I ever doubt his goodness.  He provided a way for me to have a relationship with him because Christ died for me, a sinner.  Without Christ, I could not approach the throne of God, but because of Christ, and his perfect obedience/life, I can put my faith in his finished work and repent of all my sins and freely approach the throne of grace (Heb 4:16).

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.

When we think of ourselves being glad to see someone we usually think of the person's pleasant relational aroma they bring into our presence.  But upon reading, I just was hit with the fact that we could be glad to see someone if we see that it benefits us.  The benefits could be a variety of things.  A selfish example is if you know someone owes you money and you are in need of it, then you'd be glad to see them because of the monetary prize you'll receive. 

Herod was "very glad" to see and meet Jesus.  But was he eager to learn about the Kingdom of God?  Was he excited about telling Jesus he believed in everything he said?  Or was it because "he was hoping to see some sign done by him"?  As we see in the latter verses, Herod began to mock him and treat him with contempt, so there was no real genuine desire to see Jesus, but a selfish desire to see Jesus as some kind of puppet. 

Am I ever glad to see or hear of people because it sinfully benefits me?  Unfortunately, yes.  I could recall a person telling me they had a gift for me and I was so focused on the gift and the excitement that brought me, rather than the person who lovingly thought of me.  I could think back to so many incidents when my parents presence made me feel glad because I knew they'd buy me whatever I wanted.  How sad.

When we come to church on Sunday morning we should be glad to see the people and speak to them for the sole purpose of building them up with encouragement.  I want to come to church and be intentional with being glad to see the body of Christ and take time to speak to the body of people and speak Christ living words.  Imagine if all Christ believing people did this!  What joy and what testimony it would be to outsiders, visitors, and to the body as a whole.

vs. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.

As in a horror movie or any kind of story that begins with a distressed plot line, I eagerly wait for some kind of relief that the characters will be meet a jovial end. 

Jesus in verses 10-19 foretells wars and persecution for those who will follow him.  As I began to read verse 10 and the following, I began to have shortness of breath because of the distressing events Jesus describes.  He first describes war, "nation will rise against nation...", natural disasters "great earthquakes...", persecution "but before all of this they will lay their hands on you...", persecution by family "you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers...", and death "you will be put to death".  It's as if Jesus just kept throwing in the punches--one blow after another.  How promising is a believers story line?  Well, then we get to last verses that are embedded in so much hope, "But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives."  But we must ask how will a hair of our heads not perish after saying you will be put to death?  In verse 19 it says our endurance will gain us our life.  Enduring through hardships, trusting, having faith in the LORD that gives and takes away life and who is our portion for all eternity, and remembering that the sufferings of this day in age are temporary and don't measure up to the glory that awaits us, in Christ Jesus.  So yes, we will suffer here on earth and die, but ultimately we will not be destroyed.  Death was put to death by Christ on the cross for our terrible sin.   We deserved death but because of God's kindness, he provided his Son as a sacrifice to those who would see their own good deeds as worthless before a holy righteous God who demands perfection.  Thank God for giving us the perfect Son who met this righteous requirement and allowed us to put our faith in him and count the cost of following Christ and casting everything aside to have a deep, satisfying relationship with him.