What is in Man?

John 2:23–25 ESV

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

What does our passage tell us about Jesus? Verse 23

John 2:23 ESV

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

The first truth about Jesus we see in our passage is He is the miracle worker. No John doesn’t tell us what signs He was preforming, but He does tell us many believed in Jesus because of them. So why did Jesus come preforming miracles? There are two main reasons I want to briefly look at. First let’s look at Psalm 77:14

Psalm 77:14 ESV

14 You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a miracle performing God isn’t He?

If we just look at the Exodus. God preformed miracles to prove He sent Moses. Remember? What miracles did he preform? Moses put his hand in his clock and it turned leprous then he put it back in hers clock and it returned to normal. What other miracle did He do? He cast his staff down and it became a serpent.

Jesus’ miracles proved He was the Messiah and that the Messiah would be divine.

Matthew 8:27 ESV

27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

The second reason Jesus preformed miracles because He had compassion on us.

Matthew 9:35–38 ESV

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Let’s look at a passage that beautifully brings these two truths together.

John 11:38–44 ESV

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Once again, why did Jesus raise Lazarus? Verse 38 and 42

John 11:38 ESV

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

John 11:42 ESV

42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

What other truth do we see about Jesus from our passage? Look at verse 25 with me.

John 2:25 ESV

25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

What does our passage say about us?

John 2:24 ESV

24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people

What is in the heart of man?

Matthew 26:41 ESV

41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 26:31–35 ESV

31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

What hope do we find in this passage?