Unbelievable Faith

Jeremiah 17:9,10.

Intro.

Last time we saw that there was the disruption of a blatant and outward distortion of the worship of God. I think there were many who were probably relieved of the Jews corrupt practice being called out. Some would have probably said to themselves, “its about time”. It’s about time someone come and call out those oppressors, those who make gain off the temple, and who have set up there own religion.

But there is a different audience addressed here. John the evangelist is going to quickly level the playing field. No one can escape the depth to which Jesus will penetrate in this episode.

This is almost like a meditative reflection by the Apostle John. He is thinking back on Jesus ministry and the way in which he considered everyones response to his person and works.

I. The belief many

Many believe in him and we must from the preceding discourse include Nicodemus in this many. Jesus has a large following of disciples at this point.

II. The cause of their belief

The cause of their belief is the miracles. But it runs even deeper than that. They believe because of the miracles, but they also believe he is sent from God(see Ch 3). They believe that in order to perform such signs, one must be sent from God.

This excites them. It gives them a vibrancy. They are immediately committed. You’ve met people like this. They seem to be on fire for the Lord. They are doing all the things Christians do, saying all the things Christians say, and then after a while, they are no longer saying or doing those things. Maybe its openly apostatizing, or maybe a gradual growing away. And you think, what is going on? How can this be? I remember as a young convert, I had another seeming young convert who I had befriended, and we were attached at the hip and wanted to serve the Lord together, we would do Bible study and look for service opportunities, but then seeming out of nowhere, he was no longer after those things, the fire went out. The pleasures of the world took hold.

Note here that John does not record for us the signs that Jesus did. The point is that the handful that he does record are enough. The multiplying of signs will do nothing for the natural man. Even if Jesus gives the Jews their asked for sign, they will still be hardened. We hear this today. Oh if God would just show himself, or do a miracle today, then I would believe, no you wouldn’t! As long as man remains in his natural state, he will not believe, even if someone was raised from the dead, they would find someway to maintain their natural opposition to the God whom they’ve sinned against and will give account to.

App.

You’ve heard people say, if God would just show me he’s real or make himself known to me, then I would believe. Or with even greater mockery, if God is real, why doesn’t he come show himself?

If God were to send me a sign from heaven today, where would that get me. To the same point as these folks, “believing”, but still with an unregenerate heart.

III. Jesus unbelief

IV. The cause of Jesus unbelief

V. It is preparatory for the next pericope.

Verse 24.

“all along the way, Jesus is not entrusting himself to them” “the whole time, Jesus has no confidence in their faith”

Verse 25.

“He wasn’t having any need then and isn’t having any need now of what is in man.” “He didn’t need anyone ever at anytime to bear witness to him concerning man”

Why? “For he, by himself( not by a testimony from another), knew what was in man.” “He knew what was in man from the beginning all along until the present.”

What does he know? That man is sinful, desperately sick. Man is self serving, and deceitful. That man by nature hates God and neighbor continually. That man is entirely carnal and devoid of all spiritual vitality. He knows that man doesn’t just need to try harder, or just ignite that spark inside of him. He knows that man is darkness, and that the darkness has been rejecting Him, the eternal Word, from the beginning.

An Exposition of the New Testament, Volumes I–III (Chapter 2)

that there is no good in him naturally, nothing but what comes from his father, is imparted by himself, or implanted by his spirit; he knows the wickedness there is in man, that his heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, and full of all manner of iniquities; he knows in what condition all the powers and faculties of the souls of men are; what their affections are set upon, on earthly or heavenly things; whether there is any light in their understandings, or no; whether their wills are subdued and resigned to the will of God, or no; whether their minds and consciences are defiled, or their hearts are sprinkled from an evil conscience; in short, whether the internal good work of grace is begun upon their souls, or not; and he knows the secret springs of all actions, good and bad; all which prove his true and proper deity, and shew him to be a suitable Saviour of sinners, and qualify him to be the Judge of the whole earth. ~Gill