Jesus Knows
Have you ever met someone who was in the “know?” Someone very intelligent, yet listened carefully to everyone else and did not say a lot themselves. You knew in your heart and mind that they knew a lot more than they were saying, but for some reason, they held back. We find that Jesus was this way in John 2:23-25. Jesus knows all!
In these verses, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover. It was a time of remembrance and celebration for all Jews as they looked back on God’s protection and provision while in Egypt as slaves. God had given Moses the task of convincing Pharaoh to let them go back to their promised land. Pharaoh had refused time after time. Each time he refused, God sent a plague. This last plague was to kill the firstborn male of every family if they did not have the blood of a lamb over the doorpost when the death angel passed over. This was a significant time in the history of the Israelites.
Now, Jesus, God in the flesh, the perfect sacrificial Lamb, is in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Many had believed that He was the Messiah because they saw the miracles He did. Yet, Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and He did not put His trust in them. He was careful about who He spent His time with and what He did. In verse 24, we are told He did not commit Himself to them because He knew all men. He understood the inconsistency of men. He knew most were not following Him because they loved Him and wanted to worship Him. They were following for what He could do for them. He knew it was not time for Him to die, and He also knew the Jewish leaders would turn on Him in time, and the multitudes would follow them.
John 2:23-25 “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.”
In Luke 23:8, Herod was glad to see Jesus, but not so that He could trust Him as his Savior. Herod, like many others, had heard about Jesus and wanted to meet this man. He wanted to see a miracle. He wanted to see for himself what others had been talking about. His curiosity is much like ours when we hear of a great athlete or singer. We want to form our own opinion about this person everyone is raving about. Herod had been waiting for a long time; verse 23 says he was exceedingly glad, but none of his reasons were for the right reason. He missed a grand opportunity to know the King of Kings because it was all about what he wanted, not who Jesus was.
Luke 23:8 “And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.”
In John chapter 3, we find another curious man, but the outcome is different. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews. Yet, he was curious enough about this man to seek Him out in the night and find out for himself who Jesus was. He left that night with plenty of information about salvation. While we don’t see him accepting Jesus that night, we do know that he did become a follower of Jesus. In John 19:38-40, we see after the crucifixion, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea taking Jesus’ body and preparing it for burial. His curiosity led him to believe.
John 3:1-2 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
John 19:38-40 “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.”
What about you? Has the evidence of Christ caused you to believe that He and He alone can grant you eternal life in Heaven when you accept Him as your Lord and Savior and repent of your sins? Are you satisfied with a head knowledge but without a heart knowledge that would require you to be all in? Is your belief enough to drive you to do more for Christ, seeking out people to tell about Him, never missing a service unless you are sick or out of town? How engaged are you during the services? Are you truly listening, hoping the Holy Spirit will teach you something that will help you draw closer to God? Be honest with yourself. Jesus already knows all about you. He knows your heart better than you know yourself. He knows your motive for service. He knows if you are paying attention and seeking Him, or just going through the motions. Jesus knows YOU, but do you really know Him?
