John 2:23-25

John 2:23-25

And when He was in Jerusalem in the Passover Feast, many believed in His name while seeing the signs that He was doing.  But Jesus Himself did not entrust Himself to them because He knew all people and that He has no need in order that a witness should come regarding mankind, for He was knowing what was in mankind.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

We’ll start small and build ourselves into the deep points at the end.  For a beginning, though, notice simply that Jesus was at the temple for Passover.  He was obedient.  Passover was a time for celebration and remembering how God delivers us.  It is a time to focus on God and worship Him.  This is exactly what we see Jesus doing here.  It is a simple point, but He is obedient.

In what ways are you obedient to God – even in the small things?  How does your obedience make you feel?

Second Thought:

Jesus knew what was in mankind.  On one level, John is saying that Jesus is God, He knows all things.  Jesus is absolutely sharing the omnipotence and omniscience that God possesses.  He knows everything.  On the other hand, John is making a claim that Jesus is also fully human.  He knows what lies within mankind because He Himself was mankind.  He doesn’t need a witness to tell Him what being a human is like, He already knows what being a human is like.  He knows our weakness, our failings, our temptations, our pride, our self-centeredness.  He knows.

Why is this an important dynamic to understand with respect to the God-made-Man?  Why is it helpful to know that this God with whom we are in relationship has personally experienced what it is like to be human?

Third Thought:

The fact that Jesus knows humanity is not all good, though.  Jesus did not entrust Himself to those who believed because they saw the signs that He was doing.  He knows what happens to people like that.  They are impressed with the show and amazed with the power.  But they’ve not truly bought in.  We should learn the lesson from Jesus.  We should be wary of people who are impressed by external things.  We should be wary of people who are impressed by grand buildings, or large numbers, or mind-blowing speakers.  What is important is internal change – internal humbleness and devotion to submitting to God.  That is what should impress us.  Jesus knows that those who are impressed by the external things will be easily swayed to turn away against Him when the grand nature of the outward things fades.

What impresses you?  What impresses you spiritually?  Are these questions different?  Should they be?  What kind of character must Jesus have had to not be impressed by those who believed because the saw the great things He was doing?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 3:1-8