John 2:23–3:2 Sermon

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. 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Outline

1. Belief without faith (v.23-25)

2. An example of a belief without faith (v.1-2)

We are going to see that there can be a such a thing as belief without actual trust in Jesus Christ and we will see an example of what this looks like in our text. We will see many examples throughout the Scriptures but in the second part of our text today we will see this.

Point 1. Belief without faith (v.23-25)

Verse 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

Sub Point: As we covered last week, the Passover was the first and the most important of the three annual festivals.

As we covered last week, the Passover was the first and the most important of the three annual festivals.

There are seven total Jewish festivals or feasts outlined in Scripture.

The Passover specifically called for the male population of Israel (which included any Jewish male over 12 years old).

They were to celebrate the passing over of God’s people when the angel smote the first-born of Egypt the night of the Exodus.

The Jews would give sacrifices between 3:00 and 6:00 on the night of the feast. And they would also have a meal where a lamb was roasted in fire and bitter herbs were used along with unleavened bread ().

And they would also have a meal where a lamb was roasted in fire and bitter herbs were used along with unleavened bread ().

Jesus was there during that time and verse 23 tells us that He was doing signs and that many believed in His name when He had done them.

A sign here or we can say a miracle can be defined as an event manifesting a supernatural act. It was an act that superceded natural law and one that was not normative.

In short, a sign was a supernatural act that superceded natural law and one that was not normative.

The cause for people believing in verse 23 was the signs (miracles) that Jesus had done.

Prior to our text we saw that the Jews, after Jesus drove everyone out of the temple, where He poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, we saw the Jews there demanding a sign.

Prior to our text we saw that the Jews, after Jesus drove everyone out of the temple, where He poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, we saw the Jews demanding a sign.

he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.

We saw that this was not a sign for affirmation but one that was asked to test Him. To test His authority for doing what He did there.

Sub Point: Signs were never meant to be the cause of someone’s faith. They were only meant to point to Christ. I think the gospel of John makes that clear.

In Jesus told the official whose son was ill to the point of death “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

miracle ⇔ sign n. — a marvelous event manifesting a supernatural act of a divine agent; often with an emphasis on communicating a message.

Afterwards the man believed, not because of the healing that took place which was a sign by definition, but he believed because of the word that Jesus spoke to him according to verse 50 of .

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

John 4:50 ESV

50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

Jesus here spoke negatively when telling the official that [unless he’d see signs and wonders he would not believe]. Which most likely didn’t mean a belief in Him for salvation.

The official’s belief here came from the word that Jesus spoke and in verse 53 of we see that his whole household believed. Proven that this was most likely a genuine belief.

The official’s belief here came from the word that Jesus spoke and in verse 53 of we see that his whole household believed.

We see that the cause for a large crowd following Him in was that “they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.”

In when the people saw Jesus feed 5000 of them with five barley loaves and two fish, they said “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish,

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Then in Jesus gets beneath the obvious and with pin point accuracy and He gets to the actual issue where He tells people that they were seeking Him, not because they saw signs, but because they ate their fill of the loaves.

In they asked Jesus “what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

His answer was the same. He would always reveal that He was Himself what they needed.

Responses to how Jesus answered them in John 6 was that they grumbled and many disciples left because of how hard of a saying it was. Namely, that Jesus is Himself what they needed.

This highlights how one can follow and like what Jesus does and even believe in the power He had, but lack genuine, saving faith.

In we see that “though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him.”

37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

When Jesus did signs it did not mean that belief because of signs was a good thing.

If anything we see a belief without saving faith and it didn’t guarantee faith.

When Jesus did signs it did not mean that belief because of signs meant that it was saving faith.

In fact, it didn’t guarantee faith.

Sub Point: You can believe in things about God because of signs and you cannot receive saving faith because of signs. Saving faith comes from belief in Christ alone.

The belief in verse 23 of our text was not one that proved saving faith. It only proved that they believed things about Jesus but it wasn’t a belief in Jesus.

An example can be found in Jesus brothers.

John 7:3–5 ESV

3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him.

Here we see a plea for Jesus to do the works He was doing so that He can be known openly and to the world. But His brothers did not believe.

They believed He could do the works but there was no belief in Him.

Signs were never meant to be the cause of saving faith. They are only arrows pointing to the Savior.

You can have a belief about Jesus without a belief in Jesus.

You can have many believe in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing without a true belief that saves

In other words, you can have right information about God without a saving faith in God and have signs happening around you.

This can cause us to be very uneasy. Because this gets to the core of our faith or professed faith.

Question: What do we point to when claiming to be of faith?

Do we point to having a good theology about God?

Do we point to our works?

Or do we point to the gospel? Do we look to the cross and see that in His death and resurrection we have been given life and justification?

Have we believed in the sign of Jonah? In His life death and resurrection?

Do we live in gratitude and worship because of His life, death and resurrection?

Do we confess our sins because of His life, death and resurrection?

Do we give because of His life, death and resurrection?

Do we love one another because of His life, death and resurrection?

Do we go to church because of His life, death and resurrection?

Do we see how signs cannot be compared to His life, death and resurrection?

God’s people become God’s people not because of signs.

Faith in Jesus is not caused by someone’s sight returning

Not because a leg grew back

Not even because of someone coming to saving faith

We became God’s children by adoption through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Many

By being granted faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 23 tells us that many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing but in verse 24 we read,

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

They believed in His name because they saw the signs but He did not entrust Himself to them.

Entrust here meant that Jesus could not put Himself into their care. They would have done something to Him.

An example can be found in .

to entrust v. — to put into the care or protection of someone.

John 6:14–15 ESV

14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

They said He was the Prophet who was to come into the world.

They were right about that. He was the Prophet that Moses spoke of.

But they wanted to take Him by force and make Him King. Which shows us why they said what they said.

Showing us why they said what they said.

Jesus knew what was in them. In fact the text says that Jesus knew all people!

John highlights this and proves again what he had written about Jesus in the first chapter in fact through his whole gospel that Jesus is God who came in the flesh.

Jesus is God who came in the flesh.

Jesus knew all people because Jesus was and is God.

Remember Nathanael in ?

John 1:48 ESV

48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

In speaking to those who wanted to kill Him, He said in :

J0hn 5:42

John 5:42 ESV

42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.

Jesus had knowledge from the beginning.

John 6:64 ESV

64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)

Jesus knew and He knows who truly have genuine, saving faith.

Belief about Jesus is not the same as faith in Jesus.

They believed in His name but Jesus did not entrust Himself to them. Showing a belief without faith.

At the core the one who has faith is fundamentally different from someone who believes in right things about God.

Remember

James 2:19 ESV

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Remember why this gospel was written.

John 20:30–31 ESV

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

It is very important to remember the “you may have life in His name” part. Which people who believe only because of signs do not have.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

The outcome of faith in Jesus Christ is life in His name not just belief in His name. Life that can be proven by faith and faith that can be proven by works.

To have life in His name means:

To have eternal life ()

that you have come to Christ for life because in Him is life

It means that you have eaten of the Bread of life ()

It means that you have life abundantly ()

It means that at the core you have changed from being a God hating creature to a Christ loving, Christ exalting child of God.

It means that at the core you have changed from being a God hating creature to a Christ loving child of God.

Your salvation came from a genuine belief in Christ which proves that what is now in you is the Holy Spirit.

Our text proves that one can believe without saving faith.

One can believe rightly about the things of God but not have life in His name. This belief that comes from seeing signs will prove one to be without saving faith.

So the lesson here is we should not be a people seeking signs to believe!

Matthew 24:24 ESV

24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Jesus knows what is in man prior to saving faith in Him. We see this in verse 25.

He needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. (Which by the way is good news!)

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

This can serve as a a warning to us.

Signs can keep someone in their condemnation while affirming things that are true about God.

Matthew 24:24 ESV

24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Signs and wonders are not God’s stamp of approval.

When done for His glory they are only signs pointing to the Savior.

A man who is a false christ and a false prophet can perform great signs and wonders. They are so great that they will lead many astray and if even possible the very elect would be deceived!

This is given to us to warn us. We are not to seek after signs and wonders. We are to seek Christ who has given us the sign of Jonah. Namely, His death and resurrection.

He has given us the gospel which points to Christ as the greatest sign and wonder because He is the Savior of the world.

And He knows what is in each and every one of us prior to salvation.

Question: What is in man prior to salvation?

Man has a deceitful heart

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

2. Man was brought forth in iniquity ()

3. We were according to Ephesians 2:1-5

dead in the trespasses and sins

we followed the course of this world

we followed the prince of the power of the air

we were sons of disobedience

we lived in the passions of our flesh

We carried out the desires of the body and the mind

we were by nature children of wrath

Ephesians 2:1–5 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Jesus knew what was in man and He did not entrust Himself to them.

And He knew who did not believe from the very beginning.

He knew them who only believed in what He did and not in Him.

This is why we preach from the word!

John 5:24 ESV

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

This is why we preach the word!

If a miracle happens, which by the way is not a bad thing, then amen and praise God.

But more importantly or what is eternally more important is the word of God preached and proclaimed!

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Belief in the word of Christ. In Christ who is the word, saves!

We must also be careful in our study of the word.

John 5:39–42 ESV

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.

Question: Does reading Scripture draw you to Christ?

You can search the Scriptures, you can believe right things about God, you can have awe because of a sign and not have the love of God in you.

This is why we must preach the gospel. The word of God preached and the word of God believed, saves!

James 1:21 ESV

21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

It is very, very clear in our text today.

One can believe right things about God because of signs but this does not mean that one has come to saving faith.

One can believe because of signs but it will mean that one is still dead in their sins.

We must preach the word because belief in the word of God, belief in Jesus Christ saves.

Point 2. An example of a belief without faith (v.1-2)

Verse 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

Verse 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

This coming from someone who was not in the Kingdom of God.

He believed Jesus to be a teacher from God and that God was with Him but Nicodemus did not have saving faith.

This is proven in verse 11 of .

John 3:11 ESV

11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

Christ Alone Fellowship exists to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people for His glory because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,

Close in prayer.

Related Media

Related Sermons