Jesus Who Knows What is in Each Person

John 2:23–25 (NIV 2011)

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.

I. Jesus knew all people

‘Knowing everything’ of Jesus was demonstrated when He saw Simon and Nathanael in John 1:35-51. When Jesus looked at Simon for the first time, Jesus knew him and foretold his future name ‘Peter’ (John 1:42). When Jesus saw Nathanael, Jesus knew him and told him to be ‘an Israelite with no deceit’ (John 1:47) and his past (John 1:48). In John 2:11, the disciples of Jesus believed in Him after He turned the water into wine (John 2:1-12).

In v23, many people believed in his name after seeing the signs he was performing. Differently from v11, v23 is followed by v24 and v25 despite their belief. See v24.

But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people (NIV).

But he did not commit himself to them, for he knew what people are like – (CJB)

Despite their belief (23), Jesus did not commit himself to them (24a). It was because Jesus knew all people (24b).

II. Jesus does not believe everyone’s believing [2]

Many people believed in his name … (23) but Jesus would not entrust himself to them … (24).

[1] say that John 2:24 is one of the most important verses in this Gospel. It is because it reminds us that in the New Testament the word ‘believe’ does not always mean that a person has placed genuine faith in Jesus [1].

“The living Jesus does not believe everyone’s believing (23, 24) because he knows what is in them (25). Those words ought to stand as a warning to everyone.” [2]

References

[1] Gangel, Kenneth O. Holman New Testament Commentary: John.

[2] Borcher, Gerald L. The New American Commentary: John 1-11.