He Knows

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

HE KNOWS

John 2:23-25

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.   24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25 He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

NIV

This comment by John comes right after the incident in the temple and the prophetic words of Jesus about destroying this temple and he would raise it up in three days. It is the Passover Feast, and as a good Jew, Jesus is in Jerusalem, except he was not just being a Jew, he was being a miracle worker. John does not give us an account of everything Jesus did, but what we do know is that Jesus took the opportunity to do good deeds, or miracles such as healings, in the midst of a multitude of people. The population of Jerusalem would have been swollen immensely due to the time of the Passover Feast and so Jesus knew that he had a larger audience than normal thus many more people would have the chance to know he is the Christ and believe.  This should encourage us to take the same opportunity when we are with groups of people. Sometimes we hear the newest fad of witnessing as this "one on one" method as being the best. Jesus encounters one on one times, as we will soon see with his conversation with Nicodemus, however, for the most part, Jesus spent his time with the crowds, teaching, and preaching, showing miraculous signs, with many believing in him. We are not sure if we could do miracles, but that is one of the gifts of the Spirit. Maybe we are living far too short of our possibilities as Christians. Maybe if we allow the Spirit full access, he would manifest himself in such a powerful way, multitudes of people would be coming to Jesus. Although Jesus did such miracles, John says that he did not entrust himself to the people, for he knew all men. This should give us one more clue that Jesus was divine, he was God as he made all men and Jesus was omniscient. He knew what was in their hearts and the fickleness of man, that at any moment they could turn on him and seek his death if they were so persuaded by the Jewish leaders, which happened, but this was not the time, so he was cautious and prudent regarding himself and his actions. This might also serve as a guide for us as well. There is a time for miracles and there is a time to be cautious as well. However, what we can learn, or should realize is that because Jesus is divine and knows all, he acted accordingly and he knows the heart of men, the falseness, or hypocrisy that exists. He knows the false pretentions and the profession of the hypocrites, but he also knows his true friends, his true believers, and the pure in heart, those who know they are sinners, and confess their sins, knowing his forgiveness, his righteousness, his grace, and mercy. He hears our groans, he sees our sighs, he counts our tears and in those times we have needs, Jesus will come to relieve us. He is our Lord and Savior and we can put our trust in him, and he has not withheld or is cautious and prudent with us, as he has revealed himself in the fullest to us. He has been on the cross for us and taken all our sins with him to the grave and left them there, as he rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. Jesus has held nothing back from us and therefore we should hold nothing back from him. He knows our heart, so how could we ever think of trying to hide anything from him? Let us live to the fullest in the love and light of Jesus, giving Him our all.