The gospels are some really interesting books of the Bible to read. Of course, the whole Bible is interesting to me, but to see how Christ acted and reacted while HE was on this earth is just very interesting to say the least.
In John 2, we can find where Jesus is turning water into wine. After this; HE, HIS mother, and HIS brethren went to Capernaum and then to Jerusalem. The Passover celebration or feast was about to take place, and Jesus finds people selling animals to be sacrificed. According to John, Jesus was angry and drove the men out saying, "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." However, Matthew said that HE drove them out with a whip and told them, "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." The people who were selling the animals for sacrifice were guilty of selling animals that were sick and/or not of good quality to be sacrificed, and they were charging as much as they would for a quality animal. The people who bought these animals were usually poor and had no animals of their own to sacrifice. Jesus saw right through them and brought it to their attention.
This brings me to the passage I studied today. John 2:23 – 25 tells us, "Now when HE was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in HIS name, when they saw the miracles which HE did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." Jesus had told them to "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," and had taught a great deal at this point. The interesting fact of verses 23 – 25, is that there were lots of people around and they were amazed at the miracles that HE did. They were so amazed, that "they believed in HIS name." What does this sentence or phrase mean to you?
If you read the rest of the scriptures in that text you find out that it was not the type of belief unto salvation. Today, the world is no different. You can go to any place in America, or even in most parts of the earth and you will find people that believe that Jesus is or that HE did exist.
However, they do not believe in HIM for salvation. We could go into great detail and look at all the different beliefs people have about HIM, and how some people compare idol worship to HIM. After all, we basically serve the same God don't we? The answer to that question is NO; we don't serve the same God. Many people forget the phrase used by Pharaoh in the movie, "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS," which I thought was very appropriate even as misleading as the movie was. The real Pharaoh died in the drowning, he didn't return to Egypt and say, "HIS GOD IS GOD."
Jesus Christ is very much GOD. HE created man in HIS image, HE made a way for men to be saved, and HE is preparing a place for HIS saved children. HE IS GOD, PERIOD. However, the people in John 2, may have followed HIM until they started thinking these miracles were some sort of show. There may have been some saved too. However, in this passage, we find that Jesus did not commit HIMSELF to them. Some wanted HIM to be their earthly king right then and there, but it was not time for HIM to do it. That time, my friends, is not far off now. Let's look at why Jesus would not commit HIMSELF to them according to this passage.
HE KNEW ALL MEN
Now, if there is one thing I learn in Logic while I was in Seminary, I learn this. If you have 12 men and 11 of them are in a circle, then there is some outside the circle and some inside the circle. The definition of some is 1 to all minus 1. In this instance, all 12 would have been in this circle. Why? Because, the scripture did not say HE knew some of the men, but that HE knew all men. That's right, HE know you and me too. Why? Because, HE created us in HIS image, and Jesus created everything. Paul tells us in Colossians 1:16, "For by HIM were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by HIM, and for HIM:" HE knows we are full of sin and full of self too. We depend upon everyone or everything, but HIM.
HE DID NOT NEED TO HEAR WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT MEN
Obviously, they thought he was an ordinary man, but a prophet. In fact, we find that when Nicodemus approached Jesus, that he called Jesus, ‘Rabbi,' and said, ‘we know that art a good teacher sent from God.' He, at that point, wasn't even considering Jesus to be the Only Begotten Son of God. Jesus, to the world, was just an ordinary man. These people who were following HIM knew HE had something to offer them, but they didn't really seek that important thing. That important thing was salvation. HE is the only one that can offer an escape from hell, and it's called salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Why does men need salvation?
HE KNEW WHAT WAS IN MEN
I remember Jesus telling the Pharisees that it wasn't what went into the body, that defiled a man, but it was what came out of the mouth that defiled a man. (Mat 15:16 – 20 KJV) "And Jesus said, "Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." What was Jesus telling them? The sin, in which you were conceived in, is what defiles you. The only way a man can change that is by allowing Christ to change you. Salvation is the key to the whole answer. Had these people in this particular passage really been seeking Jesus for salvation, then HE would have saved them.
IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE
Men have decisions to make. You either accept what JESUS tells you or you don't. To accept it, you must ADMIT HE is right and you are wrong; you are the vile sinner the Bible so readily tells you that you are. You must BELIEVE that HE is the Son of God and that HE died on the cross for your sins according to the scripture and that HE was buried and rose again the third day, according to the scriptures. Then you must CONFESS before God and men that you believe that. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." If you do that, then you will find that Jesus will save you and wants you to follow HIM. Men today think that going to church will somehow fool God into thinking they are something they aren't. The men who followed Jesus in John 2, were trying to present themselves as something they weren't and HE knew it. HE KNOWS YOU TOO. What will you do with this vital information, which God so freely gives to you?
It is my prayer that all who read this are already saved, but that if even one reads this that that one will accept the free gift, which only Jesus Christ offers. Remember, HE KNOWS YOU, better than you know yourself. You cannot fool HIM, even if you fool men today. If the LORD is dealing with you, want you accept HIM today as your LORD AND SAVIOR?
