Jesus didn't have any faith in their faith.
John 2:23-25 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in Him. 24 But Jesus didn't trust them, because He knew human nature. 25 No one needed to tell Him what mankind is really like.
John 12:37-38 But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in Him. 38 This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: "LORD, who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed His powerful arm?"
I love how John 2:25 points out the obvious, Jesus has just given them a clue in the previous verses as to what they are going to do with him in a few years, if anybody knows the heart of man it is Jesus. Jesus miracles brought about results, there were plenty of people that saw the miracles and realized that Jesus was not a normal man, thats what the miracles were suppose to do. But Jesus knew their intentions and he knew that they didn't really believe him for salvation.
They believed that Jesus is the promised Messiah, but did not believe in him to the salvation of their souls, this stands in contrast to the belief that Nathanael had in John 1:45-51. Jesus saw something in Nathanael that he doesn't see in this crowd.
I have to wonder, what was their level of comprehension about Jesus? Were they believing in the earthly reign of the Messiah before he reigned in their hearts? There have been plenty of people who have believed that he is the Messiah but they don't commit their lives to him.Three things that show us that Jesus is God:
✔ Jesus passion for reverence, John 2:13-17
✔ Jesus power of resurrection, John 2:18-22
✔ Jesus perception of reality, John 2:23-25
-John MacArthur "Jesus Displays His Deity"
God can see the stuff in our hearts that we don't want to let anybody know about. We cannot trick him about our level of commitment and he isn't fooled when we say that we love him yet we are not willing to serve him when it isn't fun or rewarding.
Jesus was fully aware every time the disciples had a disagreement about what his teaching meant, he knew which one was going to betray him and who would give their life for him. He also wasn't surprised when large groups of followers changed their minds and walked away from him.
Checkout this brief outline of John chapter six:
| John 6:2 A huge crowd kept following Him wherever He went, because they saw His miraculous signs as He healed the sick.
John 6:26 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with Me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.
John 6:30 They answered, "Show us a miraculous sign if You want us to believe in You. What can You do?
John 6:64-71 But some of you do not believe Me." (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn't believe, and He knew who would betray Him.) 65 Then He said, "That is why I said that people can't come to Me unless the Father gives them to Me." 66 At this point many of His disciples turned away and deserted Him.
67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, "Are you also going to leave?" 68 Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know You are the Holy One of God. " 70 Then Jesus said, "I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil." 71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray Him.
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The crowds saw Jesus demonstrate his power but the miracles didn't affect them the way it did the true followers of Jesus. The real disciples were willing to accept the invitation to "come and see," they come like Nathanael did with honesty and integrity, and they see the miracles and perceive what they really mean.
Thank you Lord for drawing me to you and giving me faith to believe in you.
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