John 2:23-25 (KJV) — ²³Now when he (Jesus) was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many BELIEVED ..(πιστευω pisteuo (pist-yoo’-o) means to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ); believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with).. in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. ²⁴But Jesus did not COMMIT (πιστευω pisteuo) himself unto them, because he knew all men, ²⁵And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
The NASB puts it like this:
John 2:23-25 (NASB) — ²³Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many BELIEVED in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. ²⁴But Jesus, on His part, was not ENTRUSTING Himself to them, for He knew all men, ²⁵and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.
At the King James Version, I put between brackets an explanation of the word πιστευω (pisteuo).
Why did I do that? Because I wanted to show you that here the word ‘believed’ and ‘commit’ (‘entrusting’ in the NASB) are translated from exactly the same word.
So it is clear that many believed in Him, but He didn’t believe in them.
Why not? Because He knew what was in man! As we read in Psalms 53:1 “They (mankind) are all CORRUPT, and they have done TERRIBLE THINGS; there is NO ONE WHO DOES WHAT IS RIGHT”.
· It is easy to stand up and say “I’m a Christian”;
· It is easy to stand up and say “I believe the Bible from cover to cover”
· It is easy to stand up and say “I’m an evangelical believer”;
or anything else.
· But do you really have it in your heart?
· Have you really been born again?
This is important! For Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
And if you cannot even see it, let alone that you would be able to enter.
So many these days have a hardened heart,
So many these days have a heart, hard as stone.
They all need to have a heart transplantation.
That heart has to go and make room for a loving heart.
They must be born again, become a different person first, before they will be able to see the Kingdom of God.
Jesus did not entrust himself with those people in Jerusalem and He will not let you in with an hard, hardened heart. You must be born again.
– Just saying “I believe” isn’t enough.
If it is true (it could as well be a lie)
it would make you no more than a believer.
– Just saying “I go every service to church” isn’t enough.
If it is true (it could as well be a lie)
it would make you no more than a church visitor.
– Even just saying “I’m a follower of the Christ” isn’t enough.
If it is true (this too could be a lie)
it would make you no more than a follower.
It isn’t only about what you say.
It is about what you are,
It is about what lives in your heart.
Jesus knows what is in your heart!
Remember the crowd in Jerusalem (yes, possibly the same people). First they called out “Hosanna” (meaning “safe us” – probably having in mind ‘from the Romans’} and a few days later “crucify him”. Jesus knew what was in their hearts; and Jesus knows what is in your heart.
It has to change before you can see the Kingdom. But before the heart can change you need a change of mind, you need to repent.
The best advice I can give you today is: Do it right now! You don’t know if you will get an other chance.
Repent of your sins and ask God to change your heart. And then start following Him.
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