John 2:18-25: a reflection

18The Jews therefore answered him, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said. 23Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did. 24But Jesus didn’t entrust himself to them, because he knew everyone, 25and because he didn’t need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.

After Jesus performs signs in Jerusalem, many begin to believe in him. But John adds a striking note: Jesus, on his part, did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to tell him what was in a person; for he himself knew what was in man. Even as crowds were drawn to him, Jesus was not taken in by their shallow enthusiasm, because he saw straight through to what was really in their hearts.

Notice what John tells us about Jesus: he knew what was in man. He did not need anyone to inform him about human nature or to tell him what a particular person was really like; he saw it directly, fully. The fickle crowds, the shallow believers whose faith rested only on signs, Jesus read them completely, and was not deceived by appearances. He knows the human heart, all of it, exactly as it is.

That is a sobering truth, and, rightly understood, a comforting one. Sobering, because it means we cannot deceive Jesus; he knows what is really in us, our true motives, the parts we hide from others and even ourselves. There is no pretending before him. But it is also comforting, because the Jesus who knows us completely, who sees the worst in us, loves us and calls us still. He is not disillusioned by discovering what we are like; he already knows, fully, and has drawn near anyway. You are fully known by Christ, and still loved. Do not try to pretend before the One who knows what is in you; come to him honestly, as you are known, and rest in being fully known and still loved.

Lord Jesus, you know what is in every person; you were not taken in by shallow enthusiasm because you saw straight to the heart. You know me completely, my true motives, the parts I hide from others and even from myself. I cannot pretend before you. And yet, knowing the worst in me, you love me and call me still. Thank you that I am fully known by you and still loved. Help me not to pretend before you, but to come honestly, as I am known, and to rest in being fully known and yet loved.