Jesus and the Heart of People

Why Didn’t More Receive Him as Messiah?

John 2:23–25 NLT

Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.

This is one of the most difficult verses in the Gospel of John.

Up front it is a real head scratcher.

And it brings up a few questions:

Isn’t the purpose of the Book to get people to believe in Jesus? If so, why doesn’t Jesus trust the people who began to trust in Him?

If He knows “all about people”, and if He knows everything in each person’s heart, wouldn’t he also know that - at least - some of them could be trusted?

Who are these folks and what is it about them that would cause Jesus not to commit to them.

I don’t know about you, but this passage made made nervous about my own standing before Jesus.

It’s right up there with Matthew 7:23

Matthew 7:23 NLT

But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Whenever we encounter verses like these, we should ask the hard questions - such as could this be me?

But then, we shouldn’t stay there - we should study the passage and pray about it - ask the Lord these hard questions - but also read them together with our community of believers and the long tradition of scholars in the Christians Church.

So, what is going on here? What do these verses mean?

And who are these folks that are trusting Jesus but not being trusted by Him?

Three reasons why John wrote 2:23-25

1ST - It turns out that these two verses form a sort of bridge between what just happened - THE WAY PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO HIM AND THE PATTERN OF RESPONSE IN THE REST OF THE BOOK.

REMEMBER THAT JOHN CHOSE STORIES TO INCLUDE CAREFULLY.

RECALL IN CHAPTER ONE - JOHN 1:9-13

John 1:9–13 NIV84

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

LAST WEEK WE LOOKED AT THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE AS A FULFILLMENT OF MALACHI 3:1-5

Malachi 3:1–5 ESV

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

AS JESUS WAS OVERTURNING TABLES - BIBLE SCHOLARS - ALREADY AWARE OF THE OT VERSES AND PROMISES - AND OF WHO JOHN WAS - WHERE WATCHING CAREFULLY.

John 1:23 NIV84

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”

Isaiah 40:3 NIV

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

SUDDENLY, IT WAS ALL HAPPENING QUICKLY....

A. A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS - WITH HUGE FOLLOWING

B. PEOPLE REPENTING AND TURNING TO GOD. HUGE REVIVAL IN PALESTINE.

C. NOW, THIS PERSON SUDDENLY COMING TO THE TEMPLE OVERTURNING TABLES - AS HE RECITES ISAIAH 56:7

Isaiah 56:7 NIV

these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

THIS IS ONE VERY GOOD REASON WHY JESUS WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED AND SILENCED - AS JOHN HAD BEEN

THE PROPHECIES CONCERNING MESSIAH WERE HAPPENING ALL AROUND THEM!

THIS IS THE MEANING OF VERSE 23! NOT JUST MIRACLES - BUT SIGNS OF FULFILLMENT!

John 2:23 NASB95

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.

Recall that there were no verse markings and chapter separations in the original text!

These verses flow from the cleansing of the Temple - to a representative of Israel ruling Body - Nicodemus - the mysterious Nicodemus

So, this is a transitional passage - it connects those who have responded to Jesus’ signs in 2:1-22 to the incomplete faith of Nicodemus in 3:1-10.

Notice, for instance that in John 2:11 - the disciples believed in Him

John 2:11 NIV84

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

So the disciples respond to Jesus’ signs with faith -but, 2:23-25 reveals that unless sign-faith leads to something deeper - to the commitment Jesus is calling for - namely - discipleship.

JUST A GLANCE OF WHAT CAROL WILL COVER NEXT WEEK...

John 3:7–10 NASB95

“Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?

NICODEMUS WAS THE TEACHER OF THE JEWS!

But after verse 9, he seems to just fade away!

John 3:9 NASB95

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?”

THEN…NOTHING MORE ON NICODEMUS UNTIL CHAPTER JOHN 19:39

John 19:39 NIV84

He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.

I DON’T THINK NICODEMUS WAS UNSAVED OR LOST - IT TOOK HIM MORE TIME - WON’T SAY MORE FOR NOW....

SO.....1ST - It turns out that these two verses form a sort of bridge between what just happened - THE WAY PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO HIM AND THE PATTERN OF RESPONSE IN THE REST OF THE BOOK.

AND....

2ND - Jesus’ Knowledge of Human Hearts - BECAUSE HE KNOWS “WHAT WAS IN A MAN” - HIS DECISION TO COMMIT IS CRUCIAL - (NOT JUST MAN’S)

John 1:42,48

John 1:42 NIV84

And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

John 1:48 NIV84

“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

John 5:42 NIV84

but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.

John 6:15,61,64

John 6:15 NIV84

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

John 6:64 NIV84

Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

JOHN IS DEALING WITH THE REALITY THAT IN PALESTINE AND THE ROMAN WORLD - IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE - THAT “HIS OWN” THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE NOT FOLLOWING HIM.

AT THE WRITING OF THE GOSPEL - BETWEEN 90 AND 100 CE - THERE WERE NOT A LOT OF JEWISH FOLLOWERS OF JESUS.

John 6:41–44 NIV84

At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

AND AGAIN IN THE SAME CHAPTER....

John 6:64–65 NIV84

Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”

John 6:64–65 NASB95

“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

John 6:64–65 NLT

But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

SO.....1ST - It turns out that these two verses form a sort of bridge between what just happened - THE WAY PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO HIM AND THE PATTERN OF RESPONSE IN THE REST OF THE BOOK.

2ND - Jesus’ Knowledge of Human Hearts - BECAUSE HE KNOWS “WHAT WAS IN A MAN” - HIS DECISION TO COMMIT IS CRUCIAL - (NOT JUST MAN’S)

AND…3rdly AND LASTLY....THE FINAL THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THESE VERSES - IS THAT GOD’S “DRAWING POWER” IS INTENSIFYING THROUGHOUT THE BOOK....

John 12:27–33 NASB95

“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.

But it is the cross that is the centerpiece of the gospel and the magnetizing force of Christianity. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, in all its magnitude of meaning revealed by the power of the Holy Spirit to human hearts, appeals to the whole wide world.

No class, social status, race, nationality, sex, or age group is excluded from its attraction.

At the cross, we encounter God’s justice through the judgment of sin, God’s love and mercy through the forgiveness of sinners, and God’s power through His defeat of Satan

At the cross, Christ brings salvation to those who believe and judgment to those who refuse to believe.

In God’s wisdom and holiness, the cross opens the only way to the Father for sinners

At the cross, Jesus sets us free from the chains of sin. The lifting up of Jesus on the cross is the captivating influence that pulls human hearts to Him.

Earlier in John’s gospel, Jesus had said, John 3:14-15

John 3:14–15 NASB95

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

The bronze snake raised up in the wilderness became a type—a prophetic symbol—of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion.

As the serpent on Moses’ staff was raised up to offer deliverance and healing, so, too, would Jesus eventually be lifted up on a cross to offer eternal life.

The snake was elevated on a pole so that all of Israel could see it and be healed, just as Jesus was lifted up on the cross so that all might see Him and be drawn to Him for salvation.