Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?

John 7:40-53

When God became man, he gave up His power, 

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, "This is truly the Prophet."  Others said, "This is the Christ."  But others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?  Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David's family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?"  So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.  Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not bring him?"  The guards answered, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man."  So the Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived?  Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?  But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed."  Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, "Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?"  They answered and said to him, "You are not from Galilee also, are you?  Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee."

Then each went to his own house.

Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?

This is prejudice in its rawest form, but even that is a cover for their evil design.  It is not because of where he is or is not from.  It is about power.  If Christ were to come, they would lose their power and their power was who they were, who they esteemed to be. And that was pure pride.  The same sin that did satan in.  He wanted to be top dog and so did they.

Lord, what power is it that I don’t want to give up?

You want to be liked and understood by all.

How is that a power?

Influence, if you have everyone’s admiration you have influence even if you do not hold a high position.

That is pride and that is unreasonable.  If God himself could not attain those things how can you?  You’re setting yourself up for failure and that will hold you down.  That goal will never be reached on earth and you will always fail if you do not change your attitude.  I do not want that for you.  I want self-love and self-acceptance for you.  Those are two things that will get you closer to the goal of letting go of that desire or expectation you have for yourself. 

You still have to be easy on yourself.  Stop judging yourself and comparing yourself to others.  That will keep you from being who you are.  That will keep you from being successful in the plan I have for you.