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.
John 2:23-25
John continues on with two themes: Believe and how Jesus “knows” things about people.
Notice the way it crosses the chapter boundary. He closes Chapter Two with “because of the miraculous signs many believed in Him. But he didn’t trust/commit to them (meaning: have confidence/faith in them) because he knew what was in them and where they were at. Jesus has been doing this all along the way. It is like He looks right inside a person and knows the inner workings. He knows human nature and He knows what mankind is really like. It is interesting that John adds here a little flash forward. “After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered He had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.” But not believed into Him. There is a pivotal point in John where this changes but let me not get ahead of myself and get into the “flash forwards” John. When we get to that point I will deal with the theme of “Believe” more fully. I haven’t forgotten the fact that I have not dealt with the theme word “believe” as some of you have told me. I am waiting for the right moment, but don’t hold your breath in the meantime.
John starts Chapter Three with
“There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee.” John 3:1
Here is a case study of one those human beings Jesus really knows. What follows is Jesus personal interaction with Nicodemus that we know so well. And of course leads up to the verse in the Bible that we all know so well. I will have more to say about the interaction with Nicodemus in the next Gem. But for the moment note how many times the word believe occurs before That Verse appears. Note too Nicodemus brings up the miraculous signs again that John mentioned in Chapter Two. Repetition is drawing attention to something.
Interact with me people. Tell me how you find these Gems.
Do you like the longer more detailed ones or the short sharp punchy ones?
Do you want more detail or just enough to tempt you to dig for yourselves? Ah but you don’t have time for that do you? You just want me to give you the answers. I know most of you probably store the gem each day meaning to get to them sometime. When will that day come do you think? Remember the Nike slogan – Just Do It. Remember this one: If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way; if you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.
It’s frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
Anon
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.
Anon
I LOVE DETAILS AWESOME GEMS!!!
Thanks Pamela. I am pleased I am touching the right buttons for you. I trust you are still following. I am in the midst of some great new discoveries at the moment.