November 23rd, 2024
From The Series: John-
So That You May Believe
Part 11 Jesus Knows
The Heart
The Gospel of John 2:23-25
Mountain View
Evangelical Missionary Church
This seems like a short passage
for us to study this morning, but we will cover a depth of material from
several books of the New Testament. This morning's message is titled “Jesus
Knows The Heart.”
What comes to mind when you hear
that statement? Does it cause you to pause? Does it cause you to tremble?
Proverbs 1:7 says, “7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise
wisdom and instruction.” When
we see the word “fear” used concerning God, we should remember that it refers
to us having a proper reverence and respect for God, or it may refer to having
a proper respect for the power of God. When you hear a statement such as, “Jesus
Knows The Heart” or “Jesus Knows Your Heart” does that cause a fear of the Lord
in you?
The omniscient power of God, His ability to
know all things at all times is a power that we wish to ignore or forget about
sometimes. Especially, if we are falling once again into a besetting sin in our
lives. We may wish to forget when we get angry at our spouse or children once
again. When we fail to do the things we need to do or act the way we need to
act as Christians. When we fall short, we may choose to forget the omniscient
power of God. We hope that our failings and shortcomings slip by this all-knowing
God who we worship.
But… they don’t. He sees all that we do, and He
knows what we will do before we even do it. Yet, He still died for us. He still
loves us enough to show mercy to us. Jesus does not require perfection from us,
as followers, all that He asks is obedience from us.
First, let’s open our Bibles or turn on your
devices and look with me at the second chapter of the Gospel of John this
morning we will be reading verses 23 to 25.
If you did not bring your Bible
this morning, you should find one underneath one of the chairs in the row in
front of you. John Chapter 2, verse 23 will be found on page 861 of the pew
bible. If you do not have a bible at home, please take that bible with you as a
gift from Mountain View Church. We feel that it is vitally important that you
have easy access to God’s Word. And God’s Word says…
READ JOHN 2:23-25
“23 Now while he was in
Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing
and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust
himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any
testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.”
Notice what is happening here. Last week we saw how Jesus cleared the
Temple and upset the usual economic activities that the corrupted religious
elites had allowed to take over the Temple area. Notice that Jesus didn’t just
clear out and run away. Jesus didn’t just cause chaos and leave. Jesus stayed
to fulfil His religious obligations by observing the rituals associated with
the festival.
Scripture tells us that this was the Passover Festival. It was a
week-long celebration. Strictly speaking, the Passover only applied to
the paschal supper, and then the feast of unleavened bread
followed, which was celebrated to the end of the seventh day. This feast was
instituted by God… to commemorate the deliverance of the Israelites from
Egyptian bondage and the sparing of their firstborn when the destroying angel
smote the firstborn of the Egyptians. The deliverance from Egypt was regarded
as the starting point of the Hebrew nation. The Israelites were then raised
from the condition of bondmen under a foreign tyrant to that of a free people
owing allegiance to no one but Yahweh.
Isn’t this exactly what Jesus does for us? He frees us from the bondage
and penalty of sin and makes us a new creation, a child of God adopted
into His family. Jesus also calls us to become a family while still here on
earth, gathering together to worship Him regularly. We are also called to
enlarge the family by spreading the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are called to play our part in this wonderful pursuit by a loving God
of His rebellious peoples.
Did you catch the other important portion of verse 23? “…many people saw the signs
he was performing and believed in his name.” “Signs” is the word that John uses to describe
what we call the miracles of Jesus. What does this mean?
It appears that while
Jesus was in Jerusalem, He began His ministry of healing and helping people.
The sick and lame would often be lying around the streets of Jerusalem during
the festivals for it would be a prime opportunity to beg from the large crowds
gathered there who would be in festive and generous moods. There were no social
safety nets in those days. If people did not have family to care for them, they
had to resort to begging to make ends meet.
You may be asking, “Why
doesn’t Scripture record these miracles that Jesus performed?” This can be
explained by John 20:30-31 which says, “30 Jesus
performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not
recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may
believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing
you may have life in his name.”
Keep in mind that John’s Gospel was written
last and he would have known that many of the healing miracles were written in
the synoptic Gospels. John may not have felt the need to repeat similar stories
here. Many of the accounts that appear in John do not appear in the other
Gospels. It appears that John was filling in some of the gaps in the narrative
of Jesus, but John also had a separate agenda. John was concentrating on the
Divinity of Jesus and he did not feel the need to go over familiar ground again.
Without giving specifics, John adds greatly to the narrative by being the only
one to mention the first cleansing of the Temple, and then mentioning that
Jesus was performing signs right out of the gate.
It does not appear that the public teaching
ministry has begun yet. Next week we will examine the private teaching that
occurs between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus and then after Christmas,
we will see that John is again the only one to record the first public teaching
of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well. But this takes place after Herod
has John the Baptist thrown in jail.
Back to today’s message. So, Jesus remains in
Jerusalem for the full week of the Festival. While He remains, He does not
cower from the religious elites, instead, He walks the streets of Jerusalem
performing at least some signs and miracles. Enough signs that people began to “believe
in Him”.
This should encourage us to
examine whether our faith is based on truly understanding who Jesus is or
merely on witnessing His works. Real belief stems from recognizing Jesus’
authority and fulfilling His promises. We should ground our faith not in
miracles but in His eternal truth. We should guard ourselves against seeing
Jesus as a method of getting the things that we desire and ask for. As faithful
Christians, we should have enough faith in Jesus to still trust Him when we
fail to get the things that we ask for. Or, when events of the world become
more and more chaotic, will we still cling to our faith and recognize that
Jesus is a good, good God?
The other night at the men’s
group, it struck us during prayer time, how many men were asking for prayers
for loved ones who were dealing with a cascading of events in their lives. It
seems with the events in the world today and in the lives of our loved ones,
that there is no shortage of items that need prayer.
This past week with the events in
Ukraine and Russia, it appears we may be on the brink of World War 3. In His
Olivet Discourse recorded in Matthew chapter 24, Jesus told us that these
events will be like the birth pains of a woman in labour and these events will
occur with increasing frequency the closer we get to the end of times. Jesus
also said that this will be a time when many will turn away from the faith. So,
let me encourage you to do a gut check on your faith in Jesus.
In the coming days, there will be
persecution against the followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus warns us of these events
so we know that they will happen. How is your faith? Will you still cling to
Jesus when the world takes away all that you have? Will you still love Jesus
when he cuts short the time you have on earth with your loved ones? When the
curse of the world brings you pain and suffering, injury and disease, will you
still cling to your faith in Jesus and in His promises? This is when the enemy
will try the hardest to separate you from Jesus. When you feel physical pain,
emotional pain, exhaustion and lowliness in spirit, the Enemy will attack the
hardest. Will you stay strong?
So, we see in this passage this
morning that people believed in Jesus because of what they were seeing. Look at
what Jesus’ response was, “24 But Jesus would not
entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.” Jesus did not “believe” those who believed
Him. Jesus did not believe the people because He knew the people. Jesus has
known what the people will do from all eternity. This pattern of “knowing” the
people extends all the way back to the beginning of the Old Testament.
Yahweh gave this song to Moses to share with
God’s people just before they entered the Promised Land and just before Moses
died outside the Promised Land to fulfill the curse which Yahweh had placed on
Moses for his disobedience, “21 And
when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against
them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they
are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on
oath.” Deuteronomy
31:21.
Jesus knew what His chosen people
would do, how some would reject Him and worship other Gods, yet still, He chose
to love them, provide for them, and protect them from surrounding armies. Jesus
still chooses us, despite all the times that we fail Him and fall short.
To believe is an important aspect
of the Christian faith. It is a cornerstone of the faith. To believe is the
foundation on which the rest of your house of faith is built. Your belief in
Jesus Christ should be rock-solid.
The Greek word used for the verb “believe”
here is pisteuo. It is used 241 times in the New Testament and it is a
departure from the use in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament teaching, we
see the word being used as a “believe that…” something had happened, but the
New Testament, especially in John’s writings, points to “believe in”. We are to
place our belief in someone, namely Jesus.
Pisteuo can also mean “to
have faith in” or “trust in” God. It means we are convinced that something is
true. Pisteuo is used to express the central convictions of the
Christian faith, as in the assertion, “We believe (pisteuo)
that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus
those who have fallen asleep in him”. 1 Thessalonians 4:14.
Isn’t this a beautiful promise?
What a statement of faith that Paul is writing here to the church in
Thessalonica. We believe that Jesus died and rose again. This is such a simple
statement, yet it is foolishness to the world. Without understanding the
significance that the resurrection plays in the redemption of man back to God,
one will fail to grasp what Jesus accomplished.
For you see, the original man and
woman rejected the instruction of God to not eat from the trees in the center
of the Garden. They had all of the garden that they could turn to for food and
nourishment, and the only obedience which God commanded and expected from them
was to leave the two trees in the center untouched. But the woman chose to
listen to the serpent rather than to listen to God. The man stood nearby neglecting
his leadership role and watched as the woman disobeyed God.
Because of this disobedience… sin,
death and suffering entered into the perfect world that God had created. Sin
separated us from the Creator. Sacrifices were required so that man would
understand the seriousness of sin. The sacrificial system was a foreshadowing
of what was to come. A pointing forward to a once-for-all sacrifice that would
be sufficient enough to reconcile the creature to the Creator.
A sacrifice born and paid by the only
perfect and suitable sacrifice of the fully human, fully divine Jesus Christ. A
sacrifice which resulted in the death of the human form. Yet, as a sign of the
fulfillment of the payment and the acceptance by the Father of the price paid
by the Son, Jesus rose again from a borrowed tomb in a new and glorious body.
This glorified form is a foreshadowing of what awaits those faithful who put
their trust in the completed work of Jesus Christ. The work of Jesus is
complete because we can not add anything to it based on our merit or works. We
can not add to it “so that none can boast” that their work was required to add
to their salvation. Salvation is a work wholly of God.
Jesus knows us intimately and is
aware of all of our imperfections, yet He still chose to die for us.
We call this completed gift of
reconciliation to God the gift of Grace. All that is required to receive Grace
is to believe, to be convinced that Jesus died and three days later rose again,
thus proving two main things: 1) That He was who He said that He was, The Son
of God; and 2) that the Father was satisfied with the price paid by the Son.
Once we place our faith in Jesus,
all that is required from us is obedience to the teachings of Jesus in our
lives. To live how Jesus calls us to live. To love those who Jesus calls us to
love. To share the Good News with those He calls us to share it with. We don’t
do these things from a sense of obligation, but rather from a sense of
appreciation for what was done on our behalf.
Turn back with me to verse 25 of
today’s passage, “25 He did not need any
testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.” Jesus does not require any
testimony from us to validate His actions. Jesus is who He says He is whether
we believe Him or not. Just because millions of people around the world reject
Jesus, does not make Him any less the Son of God. Rejection by man does not
affect the divinity of the Creator. Jesus is holding the universe together
whether we acknowledge it or not.
Jesus does not draw His power from the belief
of mankind. That is a total turning of the power structure on its head. When
Jesus sent out the 72 to spread the Gospel and to perform signs in His name,
Jesus instructed the men that if they came across a household who refused to
believe and accept what they were being shown and told, the disciples should shake
the dust off their sandals and move on to the next town. Validation of the work
of Jesus Christ does not come from man. Too many pastors and church leaders
forget this today and instead, chase after unbiblical things and teachings in
an attempt to please the sinful person rather than the Holy God.
We should not fear what man can say and do to
us, instead, we should fear the Holy and Righteous God who knows us personally
and intimately. We should also follow the
example of discernment that Jesus is setting for us here. Discernment is a
muscle that has become atrophied in the church today. Too often, false
teachings are being accepted in the name of tolerance and love. False teachers
hide behind words like “unity” to avoid scrutiny and disagreement by others
about their teachings. Jesus was not concerned with unity when He refused to entrust
Himself to those in Jerusalem at that time. Jesus did not require the testimony
of fallen men to legitimize His work.
This passage can encourage
believers to evaluate the authenticity of their faith. Knowing that Jesus
understands our hearts encourages us to pursue genuine relationships with Him,
shedding any pretense and allowing His insights to transform our lives. Are you
willing to do that? Allow the insights of Jesus to transform your life?
Jesus deeply knows us – our
intentions, our beliefs, and our true selves. This passage should emphasize the
importance of genuine faith over mere outward displays of belief and remind us
that Christ's insight calls us to authenticity.
Have you noticed the theme that
has been emerging from this second chapter? This chapter has been emphasizing
the need for purity and authenticity in our worship and our walk with Jesus. Jesus
is concerned with our inner life and not just with the outward appearance that
we share with others. Too many people are afraid of being authentic and
transparent with their brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a problem that
is found in both small and large churches.
I’m not suggesting that you are
required to share every intimate detail with every Christian you come across.
What I am suggesting is that real growth in your faith and your walk with Jesus
comes when you are willing to be authentic with a small group of Christians
that you can do life with. This willingness to share your struggles with others
will allow Jesus to bless you through the actions of these others in your life.
This past chapter we studied in
the men’s group taught us that God uses work to shower us with His blessings.
We can find purpose in our work, we can find satisfaction in our
accomplishments at our work, and Jesus can pour out His blessings through the
pay that we receive from our work. We should look to Jesus for the ultimate
fulfillment of all these things, but work can provide some of it as well. Too
many Christians see work as a curse.
The same can be true in doing life
with a small group of dedicated Christians. Discipleship happens in these small
groups much more that can happen on Sunday mornings. Bible study can be richer
when the viewpoints of others are shared. Life experience shared makes facing
troubles easier and makes isolation less likely to occur. Burdens are lighter
when you have someone alongside you on your walk. Consider the benefits of a
small group and join one.
Back to our passage of this
morning. Look at the final words of the final verse of the second chapter. “for he knew what was in each person.” The 11th chapter of the Book of
Isaiah gives a prophecy about one who will come from the branch of Jesse.
Isaiah 11:2-4 says, “2 The Spirit of
the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the
Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the
Lord— 3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will
not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his
ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with
justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.”
I started this morning’s message with a couple
of questions surrounding the understanding that Jesus sees our hearts. I asked,
“What comes to mind when you hear that statement? Does it cause you to
pause? Does it cause you to tremble?” Isaiah reminds us that we should have
fear of the Lord because of His awesome power to know us so completely.
We should be in awe of Jesus
because the Gospels give us numerous examples of Jesus knowing the hearts of
those who were around Him. Jesus demonstrated that He knew the hearts of the
Pharisees when they came to challenge His teachings. Unlike the Pharisee
Nicodemus, most were not interested in genuinely learning from Jesus, rather
they were out to challenge what He was teaching because what He was
teaching threatened the very structure that they had spent so much time and
effort building. Jesus taught repentance and faith, and the Pharisees taught
the Law and works. The two systems could not have been any more at odds with
each other.
Jesus knows our hearts and
shortcomings, yet Jesus still chose to die for us. That fact alone should
humble us and show us that we can not do anything to add to the completed work
of Jesus Christ. I have heard too many preachers proclaim something like “Jesus
accepts you just as you are” and this statement is true. The deception comes
when they imply that it is OK to remain where you are when Jesus accepts you.
We have seen with the calling of the first disciples, that Jesus did accept
them just as they were, but He immediately began doing the work of discipling
and teaching them. Jesus took the raw clay that was their existent lives and
immediately began the work of transforming them into true followers of His.
The same is true for us today.
Jesus will accept you in whatever sorrowful and sinful state He finds you in,
but He doesn’t leave you there. We are blessed because as believers in Jesus
Christ, we are gifted the Holy Spirit to dwell inside us to guide and change us
from within. We have a paraclete a helper, a counselor, an advocate who
is God living within us to assist us with our walk with God.
Despite knowing our shortcomings,
Jesus still extends His mercy to us. In our other small group this week, while
we were studying some of Mark chapter 15, we read and examined the levels of
humiliation that Jesus endured at the hands of the Roman Soldiers before
He was crucified. The mocking, and beatings that Jesus endured. Not to mention
the terrible scourging that left His body a broken and bloody mess. This was
being done by the same cohort of men who had arrived the night before in the
Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. In the 18th chapter of John’s
Gospel, the author records how Jesus forced this cohort of armed men to step
back and fall to the ground with three little words spoken.
Yet,
less than 24 hours later, Jesus was enduring severe physical punishment and
mocking at the hands of the very same men. Scripture tells us that the entire
cohort turned out to see Jesus punished. Jesus could have stopped the torture
at any moment, but He endured it all in complete obedience to the Father. The benefit
of this obedience comes to us through the mercy extended by Jesus to us.
This mercy results in those who
choose to accept it in an eternity spent with Jesus in a New Eden established
with God’s perfection absent our disobedience. An eternity free from pain and
suffering. An eternity with a glorified, resurrected body as foreshadowed by
the resurrected Jesus. An eternity ruled over by a perfect and loving Father. A
King free from the corruption of power and greed. An eternity rescued from the
sufferings of those separated from Jesus. Oh, what a blessed day that will be.
Don’t be terrified that Jesus
knows your heart. He does and He still loves you. But don’t let this knowledge
of His love allow you to stay in your sin. Be aware that if you have accepted
Christ as Lord and Saviour, you are now an adopted child of a king. Rise to the
occasion and the challenge and change your life for the better. Be worthy of
God’s choice of you.
CONCLUSION
The Big Idea of this
passage is that authentic faith is recognized and rewarded by Jesus, who sees
beyond our public persona into the true state of our hearts. Jesus knows us and
because of this, we should trust Jesus when He asks things of us like our
obedience.
Here is an illustration I found
written by Donner Atwood, in Reformed Review.
During the terrible days of the Blitz of World
War 2, a father, holding his small son by the hand, ran from a building that
had been struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a shell hole. Seeking shelter
as soon as possible, the father jumped into the hole and held up his arms for
his son to follow.
Terrified, yet hearing his father’s voice
telling him to jump, the boy replied, “I can’t see you!”
The father, looking up against the sky tinted
red by the burning buildings, called to the silhouette of his son, “But I can
see you. Jump!”
Jesus sees us and Jesus knows us. We should
“jump” when He calls us.
The boy jumped, because he trusted his father.
The Christian faith enables us to face life or
meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen;
not that we know all the answers, but that we are known.[1]
Let me close with this doxology:
24 “The Lord
bless you and keep you;
25 may the Lord
make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
26 may the
Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
Go in peace, you are dismissed.
[1]
Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging
Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002), 158–159.
