In this sermon, Pastor Dave Capoccia finishes examining John 2:12-25. John presents Jesus’ cleansing visit to Jerusalem on Passover so that you will not present God with corrupted worship but instead believe in Jesus. After a brief review, Pastor Dave explains specifically how verses 18-25 show why you must come to Jesus with full, genuine faith.
1. Jesus Demonstrates Zeal for God’s House (vv. 12-17)
2. Jesus Offers Only a Cryptic Sign (vv. 18-22)
3. Jesus Knows and Rejects False Believers (vv. 23-25)
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well it’s good to be back looking at the word of God with you many thanks to Pastor Bobby for taking the extra load over the last month or so as Emma and I try and figure out how to take care of our lovely boy thank you so much for your prayers let’s go to the Lord in prayer before we hear from him Speak O Lord we come to you to receive the food of your holy word plan to deepen us shape and fashion us into your likeness amen preparation for the message today I’ve been thinking about a certain basic question for life and that is how do you know when someone is telling the truth or to frame the question negatively how do you know when someone is lying to you in some cases of course a lie is quite easy to spot you’ve probably seen a viral video clip of a toddler who’s been caught in some mischief maybe putting marker all over the walls or going to town with Mommy’s makeup and when confronted by the parent as to who could have made such a mess the little tyke with marker stains still in his hands or lipstick all over her face says I don’t know not me that’s such an obvious lie can be offered seriously is funny if a little sad but while sometimes the truth is obvious many times in life it’s hard to tell if someone is lying but some people think that they are good at spotting liars and they therefore look for the telltale signs and the way a person speaks and acts to betray is falsehood excuse me a moment they might ask themselves is he avoiding my gaze is he getting fidgety is he using more speech fillers like uh and um and things like that is he blinking a lot well he must be lying however the conclusion over years of scientific investigation is that there is basically no reliable outward tell that someone is lying a person can act nervously even when they’re telling the truth and a person who is lying can still remain outwardly quite composed in fact a scientific review conducted in 2006 of more than 200 different experimental studies in which participants were supposed to decide simply based on how a test person was speaking or acting whether that test person was lying or telling the truth this review found that the participants in all these studies which consisted of student volunteers and trained law enforcement could only directly discern truth telling from lying 54 of the time 54 of the time could they tell the difference which is only slightly better than randomly guessing in other words there is no easy way to know if a person is lying or telling the truth instead we humans must rely on more effort-filled Avenues of Truth verification we have to look for Witnesses we have to look for evidence to back up what a person is telling us or we must listen to what that person says over time to see if what he says remains consistent or it involves contradictions even these methods are not foolproof but they’re the best of God it’s the best we can do in our sin cursed vaporous world yet there is one person for whom knowing the true from the false is completely easy takes no effort at all doesn’t need any help even before someone speaks he knows the genuine ones from the frauds the deceivers and even the self-deceived from the truly faithful he knows this because his eyes do not see as ours do resting on the outward appearance his eyes cut to the heart I look upon what’s inside they stare at your inner person is there a human with such a penetrating Grace there is and he’s the Lord Jesus Christ the God man the word made flesh you know we’ve been studying through the Gospel of John and even the first two chapters we’ve seen this kind of knowledge this penetrating look from Jesus even in the hearts of his first disciples you remember when he’s calling them in the first chapters he’s able to tell this is ninja light in whom there’s no deceit I tell you your name is Peter you are rock you can look right into the heart but as we go on in the Gospel of John as we turn now rather we turn now to the account of John 2 we’re going to see Jesus gaze expose the hearts of would-be disciples persons who pretend to or even think that they really do love God and seek his truth but they don’t really that’s we’re going to see today our need we want to appreciate our need even here at Calvary to be genuine Disciples of Jesus followers who truly believe in him and do not offer him false corrupted worship so if you would please open your Bibles to John 2 verses 12 to 25.
this message is entitled Jesus confronts corrupted worship part two John 2 12-25 this is true Bible page 1060 if you’re using that a little over a month ago we were looking at the first part of this passage let’s reread the whole section we’ll review what we’ve seen and then we’ll examine the latter two parts of the passage together so John 2 12-25 after this he that’s Jesus went down to Capernaum he and his mother and his brothers and his disciples and they stayed there a few days the Passover the Jews was near and Jesus went up to Jerusalem and he found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves and the money changers seated at their tables and he made a scourge of cords and drove them all out of the temple with the sheep and The Oxen and he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables and to those who are selling the doves he said take these things away stop making my father’s house a place of business his disciples remember that it was written Zeal for your house will consume me the Jews then said to him what sign do you show us as your Authority for doing these things Jesus answered them destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up the Jews then said it took 46 years to build this Temple and will you raise it up in three days but he was speaking of the Temple of his body so when he was raised from the dead his disciples remembered that he said this and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover during the feast many believed in his name observing his signs which he was doing but Jesus on his part was not entrusting himself to them for he knew all men and because he did not need anyone to testify concerning man for he himself knew what was in man here we are again looking at Jesus first cleansing Passover visit to Jerusalem now remember Jesus will have another cleansing visit on Passover in Jerusalem and that happens right before his crucifixion but this one’s the first one and it takes place at the beginning of his three and a half year public Ministry around A.D 27 rather 20 yeah 80 27.
now our author John the Apostle he doesn’t record this visit simply because it was an interesting occurrence no he has purposely reported this event because it fits and the purpose the main goal of this entire book and we’ve looked at this before John 20 verse 31 John tells us why he wrote This Book these have been written the record of these specific signs and what Jesus said these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that believing you may have life in his name this is chiefly an Evangelistic gospel so that people will believe in Jesus now as wonderful as that goal is as wonderful as the prospect is of believing in Jesus to receive eternal life there is a danger there is a deadly danger into which would-be Disciples of Jesus can fall and that danger is that they will believe in Jesus with something less than saving faith they will believe but it’s not full belief maybe it’s just intellectual maybe it’s just emotional or maybe it’s part of the person but not all of the person whatever whatever it is in some way the believer doesn’t go all in on Jesus it doesn’t give up all to follow him to the end you hold something back maybe it’s for the sake of sin maybe for this it’s the sake of his own safety or maybe it’s just so he can serve some worldly treasure person wants to fit Jesus in his life along with something else so rather than presenting Jesus with the full the pure the sincere worship that Jesus is due as God as the son of God this believer he presents god with corrupted worship this believer therefore thinks Because he believes because he’s heard the message and he believes he thinks all is right with him and God and therefore he is Bound for Glory but the sad reality is all is not right with him and God all is very wrong with him and God is not bound for Glory he’s down for Eternal darkness and Fire our writer John the Apostle does not want his original audience to enter into that destiny to share that Faith remember he’s writing to Hellenistic Jews these are people who say they love God they are God worshipers but he recognizes that there’s a belief that they can have that falls short and the spirit of God does not desire such a dark fate for any of you this morning interview who are listening to this thus we have this passage to warn us and the main idea is as we saw last time I’ll repeat it John presents Jesus cleansing visit to Jerusalem on Passover so that you will not present god with corrupted worship but instead believe in Jesus really believe in Jesus in a full way our passage presents three poignant instances of Jesus confronting corrupted worship and we saw the first one together last time in verses 12 to 17.
this is just review number one Jesus demonstrates Zeal for God’s house Jesus demonstrates Zeal for God’s house Jesus encountered at this Passover feast what he no doubt had seen many times before in Jerusalem he saw animal Sellers and money changers turning the outer Court of God’s Temple which was supposed to be a place of worship for all the nations they were turning it into a Marketplace and having begun his public Ministry Jesus no longer held back his Zeal for God but he took action he made a whip and he angrily drove out all the merchants and their animals and he scattered the coins in the money changers and he warned them that they dare no longer desecrate his father’s house and this zealous cleansing of the temple it not only testified of Jesus identity as the true Christ but it also once again made clear that God is a God who will not tolerate corrupted Worship in his people not then and not now while nobody tried to stop Jesus Act of righteous anger some thought Jesus had some explaining to do thus we see in verses 18 to 22 a second instance of Jesus confronting corrupted worship and that’s what I want to look at together with you today along with the third instance but we’ll start with the second number two Jesus offers only a cryptic sign Jesus offers only a cryptic sign and for this we’ll start with just verse 18.
it says the Jews then said to him what sign do you show us as your Authority for doing these things so right on the heels of Jesus dramatic cleansing of the temple a certain question emerges and notice who’s asking it the Jews and there’s that term again most likely the particular Jews that are raising this question to Jesus are the ones associated with the temple the ones for the considering what Jesus said just did they have the most reason for concern so this would be the temple officials the priests the religious leaders probably the Pharisees and Sadducees but as is often the case in this gospel notice Jonathan tell us it’s the Pharisees and Sadducees of the priest he just says the Jews it doesn’t specifically identify which Jews and this is probably because John wants us to see that this question from the Jewish leaders it is the same question that the Jews as a whole would be asking Jesus again and again it really properly represents the people’s response to Jesus and what’s the question what sign do you show us now remember how John uses the term sign in this gospel we’re not talking about any old symbol or communication but a sign Miracle every time you see the word sign here or almost every time I think it’s actually every time it’s a sign Miracle a miraculous work that testifies to who Jesus is and from where he comes so when the Jews asked Jesus for a sign they’re really asking him to perform a revelatory miracle what do they want this particular sign Miracle to show or to prove well they say what sign do you show us as your Authority for doing these things so do you see they want a miracle from Jesus to prove that he has the authority to do what he just did and what’d he just do holy cleansed the temple in a dramatic way all by himself without asking permission of anybody now it’s worth noting they don’t ask Jesus if what Jesus did was right or if what Jesus did was necessary they merely ask if he can prove by a miracle that he had the authority to do what he did and why would they care so much about whether Jesus had the authority well this is not simply the religious leaders getting a little uppity with Jesus thinking he’s encroaching on their turf it’s more than that it’s as I said to you last time the Jews especially the Jewish leaders they realize that this sudden appearing and single-handed cleansing of the temple that’s the kind of move that only one person would do or attempt to do and that is the messiah Israel’s long-awaited Christ the special deliverer the coming king of Israel many Jews have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Messiah remember there’s a lot of Messianic expectation at this time and so they think based on what just happened Jesus might be him or at least Jesus might be pretending to be the Messiah so as the Jews did in Jerusalem or the Jews of Jerusalem did with John the Baptist remember they sent a delegation to him to ask him are you the Christ or do you claim to be the Christ or somebody associated with the Christ they wanted to see what he was claiming and what his credentials were well now they’re doing the same thing with Jesus they’re questioning Jesus and asking for his credentials do you claim to be the Messiah if so what you have that proves it Jesus after this whole cleansing gig you are acting like someone claiming to be the Christ we expect that when the Messiah comes he will have the power of God clearly and he will do great Miracles like Moses did on behalf of his people so let’s see it what kind of sign Miracle will you do to prove that you’re in the Messiah and have the authority to cleanse the temple and even rule as king of the Jews this is what they’re after now you might think this is a golden opportunity for Jesus in his Messianic mission Jesus they’re asking you to clarify who you are so that they can follow and believe in you that’s great so why don’t you do as they ask why not do the biggest sign that you can think of prove you are the Christ well look at how Jesus responds verse 19.
Jesus answered them destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up what what kind of response is that to them that’d be like answering what is two plus two with banana how does that answer follow we can imagine the Jews trying to make sense of Jesus words okay we just asked him for a grand miraculous sign to prove he’s the Messiah and first he says you all destroy this Temple I don’t know why we would destroy the Holy Dwelling Place of God but okay and then he says in three days I will raise it up so the miraculous sign that Jesus is offering is to rebuild in three days the destroyed Temple sanctuary what first of all it’s crazy to think that we Pious Jews would destroy God’s Temple and second it’s crazy to think that he could rebuild that temple in just three days what kind of answer is this and we know that this is how the Jews are thinking because of the response they would give to Jesus in verse 20.
look there the Jews then said it took 46 years to build this Temple and will you raise it up in three days now you may ask what’s this business about 46 years well that’s a reference to the work that Herod the Great conducted on behalf of the Temple back in 20 or 19 BC King Herod wanted to Curry favor with the Jews and he also wanted to indulge his desire for building he loved to build all over Israel so he embarked on a temple renovation project he expanded he built up he beautified the temple of God or he started to now the temple had already been built remember it was rebuilt under zerubbable after the Jews came back from exile but now Herod is expanding and beautifying it and the grounds around it he began this Grand construction project back in 19 BC but he died before he could finish it but the work went on in fact 46 years later workers were still renovating parts of the Temple I mean this is God’s house you can’t just do a shoddy job or leave it unfinished right this is this is for His glory so they kept going so the Jews are thinking themselves who’s this character who says he can raise up a complete glorious beautified temple in just three days when we haven’t finished beautifying God’s temple in 46 years and by the way the Jews would not finish their work on the temple before it was destroyed again in 80 70.
so you can see by the way as the Jews respond to Jesus that they are incredulous they do not believe what he just said oh Jesus we asked you for a grand sign but raising up the temple in just three days that’s a bit of a stretch don’t you think but why would we need to rebuild the Temple anyways your response makes no sense verse 21 reveals that there is a crucial detail that Jesus left out regarding his offered sign a detail that completely clarifies his answer to the Jews and let’s see it verse 21 but he was speaking of the Temple of his body oh that changes everything doesn’t it when Jesus talks about the Jews destroying the temple and raising it up and he’s raising it up in three days Jesus is not talking about the physical building he’s talking about his own physical body so the sign that Jesus is offering is not some Speedy Temple reconstruction but what his resurrection after all what is Jesus in himself John 1 tells us he’s the word made flesh he’s the Eternal God dwelling with or tabernacling among men thus his body is the temple of God it’s the dwelling place of God and it’s a Dwelling Place even greater than the temple building yeah what does Jesus foretell his body the very temple of God will be destroyed and who’s going to do it the Jews the very people who claim to love God into love God’s house they will destroy the greater temple of God but what will Jesus do he will raise it up in three days that is by his own powers the son of God he will take up the life he sets down again or he take up again the life you set down and Rise Again from death you want a grand sign to prove that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God well here is your sign God’s prophets had raised people from the dead before a few times in the Old Testament but no one ever raised up himself that is a messiah Type move you know what that is a god Type move only God only the god of life has the power of death like that power over death like that so this will be a great sign it will definitely prove who Jesus is but no to skin this great foretelling is great foretelling of both Jesus death by the Jews and his resurrection three days later it’s given three and a half years before it happens and it’s not clarified Jesus doesn’t clarify it for the Jews and he doesn’t even clarify for his disciples not here at least rather look at verse 22.
so when he was raised from the dead his disciples remembered that he had said this or that he said this and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken notice that it’s only when Jesus actually fulfills this cryptic word about his death and resurrection that his disciples remember and believe finally clicks it all makes sense when they actually see the Risen Lord and by the way we see this with Jesus’s other foretellings of his death and Resurrection it’s pretty plain but they don’t get it they can’t understand it it’s only when he arises from the dead that they say oh that’s what he was talking about that’s what he was talking about even on that first Passover trip to Jerusalem now we see it now we understand now we believe it says in verse 22 that when Jesus was raised the disciples believed the scripture now that’s an interesting expression because usually when John in his gospel talks about the scripture singular he’s talking about a particular passage not talking about the scriptures as a whole but a particular Passage but which one is John referring to here don’t see one specifically identified for us quoted difficult question to answer it could be that though this is not the way John usually does it John is referring to all of scripture here all of the Old Testament what it generally says about Jesus and his coming and his death and his resurrection or it could be that John is referring to a particular text without mentioning where it comes from there’s at least one other time in the Gospel of John where he might be doing the same thing perhaps John is referring to Psalm 16 verses 10 to 11 where it is we’re told that the greater David would not be abandoned to the Grave or see corruption but that he would know God’s path of life that is a foretelling of the resurrection of Messiah or maybe John is referring to Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 verses 10 to 12 which talks about how the suffering servant who is Jesus he will die on behalf of his people yet somehow it says he will prolong his days and he will see The Offspring that comes from his sacrifice how can that be it’s because of the Resurrection there’s another foretelling of the Resurrection death and Resurrection in that Passage but there is another possibility and this is the way I lean actually John has mentioned a Old Testament text already In this passage if we go back to verse 17 our author notes how the disciples thought of Psalm 69 9 when they saw Jesus Zeal in cleansing the temple and even quotes it for us Zeal for your house will consume me at that moment they realize how Jesus was acting in consistency with that song Oh David was zealous this one who’s come after David is zealous II that’s appropriate for the Messiah zealous for God’s house but they didn’t realize at that moment just how prophetic that statement and really that whole Psalm was about Jesus for this Psalm not only foretold that the coming seed of David would be zealous for God’s house but that this greater David would be consumed because of that Zeal now don’t think of consumed and just like oh man he was just really full of zeal no the context of that statement is suffering the very next line says the reproaches of those who fell on you fell on me so when Jesus was consumed or Jesus will be consumed by this Zeal that means he will be eaten up he will be devoured there will be nothing left of him because of his zeal he would suffer the reproaches meant for God even to the point of death indeed at his crucifixion the mockers would feed him with gall and give him vinegar to drink which is just what Psalm 69 21 says this Psalm is foretelling Jesus death because of his Zeal for God but that’s not how it would end after all the whole Psalm is a prayer for deliverance from death and for deliverance for Vindication from God against enemies in Psalm 69 15 the psalmist specifically pleads with God to deliver him from the pit what is the metaphor for death and the place of death the psalm ends with the psalmist affirming that God has heard his prayer so then Psalm 69 is the foretelling both of the death and resurrection of the Messiah it’s true in a certain way about David but it was true about his seed in an even greater way no doubt this was one of the scriptures that became clarified for the apostles after Jesus death and Resurrection they said oh now I understand the Holy Spirit made it clear to them they say this was talking about Jesus God had always determined for this to be and he brought it to pass and they believed I think there’s a good chance that this is the text that John has in mind in John 2 22. hard to be dogmatic with that point regardless the verified fact of Jesus actual death and his actual bodily Resurrection it eventually causes the disciples to believe in Jesus because of the foretelling scripture and because of the words that Jesus himself has said three and a half years before it happened he says even by these cryptic words what’s going to happen this didn’t happen by chance it’s not some strange but happy accidents this is the work of God coming to pass in the one who is the word made flesh this is more testimony that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that believing you have life in his name disciples realize that we need to realize that but let’s now take a step back and consider this whole Exchange in verses 18 to 22.
doesn’t it strike you as odd I mean first why did the Jews ask for a new sign wasn’t the cleansing of the temple a kind of sign in itself of Jesus identity maybe it wasn’t miraculous there may have been something miraculous that worked there but that was that was pretty significant and doesn’t verse 23 go on to tell us that Jesus was doing signs that is he was performing Miracles multiple miraculous works during the week of the Passover feast doing healings he’s doing exorcisms he’s casting out demons wasn’t Jesus then already giving the Jews the signs they were looking for why’d they asking for another one the second why does Jesus respond to the Jews the way that he does why not Point them to the Miracles that he’s done elsewhere now why not Point them to the Miracle at Cana or the other Miracles he’s doing in Jerusalem to verify his authority to prove his messiahship and why not offer them some new spectacular miraculous sign right then and there I mean if they’re asking for him why why not give it to him I mean make the temple lift off the ground and hover in the air or something wouldn’t that just settle the issue I mean sure the coming Resurrection is a pretty amazing sign but even that why not explain it to them why leave the Jews confused about it they think you’re talking about the building in fact we see from the other gospels three years later at his crucifixion or right before it many of the Jews will accuse Jesus based on this statement right here that he threatens to destroy the temple and then rebuild a new one in three days they will use that to Mock and accuse him because Jesus doesn’t clarify his words what he says will be continually misunderstood misremembered and even purposely Twisted against Jesus why let them do that well the answer to all these questions is the same it’s because of unbelief though it may look like the Jews are interested in finding out whether Jesus is the Messiah so that they may believe in follow him Jesus knows their hearts and he sees what’s going on Within and he knows that no matter what new sign he does the Jews as a whole will not believe and why not two reasons at least the first is because it will never be enough every time he does a sign they will say that was great what a mighty work of God but um what else you got like the ancient Hebrews in the wilderness who kept turning away from God no matter how many miraculous deliverances he provided for them so the Jews of Jesus day have adopted the same attitude basically a what have you done for me lately approach with God and with the son of God sure Jesus I’ll believe in you as the Messiah as long as you keep cranking out those miracles but when they stop or when they stop impressing me well then I’m going to stop following because hey on a true Messiah just keep on doing miracles for his people and this really flows into a second main reason why the Jews or rather why Jesus knows that signs will not lead to True faith in the Jews as a whole because the Jews are ultimately not looking for what the signs point to but just the signs themselves hey Jesus are you ready to provide us with miraculous food how about total health and wealth going forward how about a mighty miraculous deliverance from the Romans after all if you’re really in the Messiah you’ll do these things for us won’t you this is what we see is going on with the Jews from other parts of the Gospels see the Jews aren’t ultimately interested in God himself and they’re certainly not interested in Repentance they don’t think they need forgiveness deliverance from sin salvation what they think they need it’s a comfortable life to serve their own desires and idols they pretend to love God they may think they really do love God but really they love themselves so as long as God as long as Jesus serves their agenda oh they’re on board with him but when he stops or when he does or says something they don’t like well then he’s dead to them literally Jesus isn’t going to play this game in fact never in his ministry when somebody asked Jesus a sign to prove who he is or to show his authority he never agrees to that demand he never produces a sign on demand and to those who ask basically his response is this you want signs I’ve already provided enough if you don’t think it’s enough it’s because you are wicked and spiritually adulterous nothing is going to satisfy you therefore for you I will offer one other sign but I will only offer to this cryptic one that exposes who you really are you don’t want the truth so I won’t bother explaining it to you but others will know eventually you who say you love God in his Temple I tell you you will kill me you will destroy God’s greater Temple but I will raise it from the dead I will raise my own body from the dead three days later and in that day it will be obvious to those with spiritual sight who I am and who you are I am the Christ and the Son of God but you you are Sons and Daughters of the devil before we go on we should pause a moment and reflect on what Jesus ancient words mean for us today because this is the living and active word of God it’s timeless it does speak to us in the way that we need you should ask yourself do you respond to Jesus in a way similar to the way the Jews do hear have you been hesitant to become a Christian to follow Jesus to go all in on Jesus because you’re not sure he’s provided enough evidence yet for you to trust him you’re not sure that there is a God that he is the god of the Bible and not sure that Jesus is God or that he is the Christ after all you have questions you think God has some explaining to do about how things have transpired in your life really you’d like to believe but God just hasn’t provided enough signs to you yet maybe if he spoke to you in a vision or maybe if he suddenly healed you from a disease or maybe if he delivered you from the problems of your life well then you’d believe if that’s the way you’re thinking you got to banish that the kind of thinking from your mind because like the Jews you’re only kidding yourself the Bible says that you already know that God exists and that you know that he’s the god of the Bible God has made himself obvious to you from his work and creation his work and your conscience and in the good Providence he’s exercised on your behalf in life you don’t really need more evidence you need to stop suppressing the evidence that God has already given you and you don’t ultimately need God to deliver you from your problems you need God to deliver you from sin from Death from the Wrath that hangs over you from God which can only happen through his son the Lord Jesus Christ or maybe you do already believe but your relationship with God is not as it should be it’s really shriveled over the years you don’t feel close to Jesus Anymore once you were excited to read the Bible pray evangelize fellowship with the church not now after all your life has taken some turns you didn’t expect you love God but you’re not sure he loves you after all why otherwise would he let these difficult things happen to you if you’re like God has let you down he’s betrayed you really think God’s got to make it up for you make it up to you before you can trust him again is that how you feel I urge you you got to turn from that ungodly kind of thinking because God doesn’t need to prove his love to you he’s already proven it how in the most obvious way he can in sending Jesus his son to Die For You on the cross there’s no greater way he can demonstrate his love that’s exactly what the scripture says God demonstrates his own love in this that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us and he promises in his word he’s never going to leave or forsake you he clarifies that he uses even the painful trials he brings into your life for your good they are evidences of his love not his lack of love you don’t need new evidence of God’s love for you in your life you need to believe what he’s already said and what he’s already done for you got to get rid of this flesh driven what have you done for me lately attitude with God yeah I remember God you did some nice things for me in the past but that’s different from now I don’t like what’s going on now I don’t think you love me now get rid of that on ungodly thinking that’s just Pride that’s a refusal to trust God take on a Biblical mind again let God tell you what he has done is doing and will do and live by faith I know sometimes it looks like it feels like God doesn’t love you what does the scripture say you have a more sure word we have the more assure word which you would do well to pay attention as a lamp in a dark place your experiences are going to be all over the place but you know what you can trust without reservation What God Says in his word look at the Psalms we were just singing about some of the things that they say Christians have trials but let the trials drive you to God not away from God that’s what he’s meant for them to do Hold On by faith to God wait for his Deliverance do not slip into corrupted worship that says I don’t see a God so therefore I’m not going to trust that is corrupted worship and it only makes you miserable and it certainly dishonors God and invites his discipline well we’ve seen a second instance of Jesus confronting corrupted Worship in our passage but there’s one more let’s look at the last in verses 23 to 25.
this is number three Jesus knows and rejects false believers Jesus knows and rejects false believers verse 23.
now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover during the feasts many believed in his name observing his signs which he was doing well here we get a summary of Jesus activity during this first Passover feast now first glance it sounds very positive look many are seeing the miracles of Jesus and they’re believing in his name wonderful that’s just like what John’s gospel was intended to do as a whole right John writes about these signs John tells us about what Jesus did so that we will believe in the name of Jesus look it’s already happening in Jerusalem Jews are believing in Jesus as Messiah Glory Hallelujah but then there’s verse 24 and 25.
but Jesus on his part is not entrusting himself to them for a new all men because he did not need anyone to testify concerning man for he himself knew what was in man it’s an interesting facet to the original Greek here a word for believe in verse 23 is bestuo from pistus meaning Faith or faithful the word for entrusting in verse 24 is actually the same word it’s also pistuo but it has to be translated differently in English because there’s a reflexive attached to it it says entrusting himself the himself part means has to be translated differently but we could preserve the repetition in language with an alternate translation something like this many trusted in his name but Jesus was not entrusting himself to them that’s poignant isn’t it why not they’re believing in you Jesus why why aren’t you accepting that the rest of the two verses gives the answer emphatically saying the same thing three different ways Jesus knew all men didn’t just look at the outside didn’t just listen to words didn’t just pay attention to body language to see if these Believers were sincere he didn’t even need Witnesses he didn’t need someone to give testimony on behalf of someone else and say oh Jesus Jim is a great guy you really should accept him no Jesus always sees the heart he knows every person inside and out and for the masses who were supposedly believing in him at this first Passover he himself knew what was in them and what is naturally in all people and what is that we’re gonna see it more in John 3. a love for the darkness and a hatred for the light a love for sin and a hatred of righteousness of love for self and a hatred of God Jeremiah 17 9 says famously that the human heart is more deceitful than all else and desperately sick so that means that it is possible for us yes even us we humans can continue to love ourselves exalt ourselves even while we try to convince others we try to convince ourselves we’d even try to convince God that we love him we can try and do both at the same time we might even be willing to believe in Jesus become a Christian but Jeremiah 17 10 says Jeremiah 17 10 I the Lord that is I Yahweh search the heart I test the mind even to give to each man according to his ways according to the results of his deeds Jesus knew that the faith the belief of those believing in him at Passover was suspect there was something wrong with it something incomplete about it it was not reliable these people thought they were giving themselves to Jesus and they were just kidding themselves he knew their hearts and so he didn’t give himself to them it didn’t open himself to them he didn’t accept and welcome them and of course what was true then is still true now Jesus is God God does not change he’s just as holy and right and good now as he was at this first Passover feast which means Jesus still knows and rejects false believers it is possible for you even some of you here this morning to say and you mean it I believe in Jesus I still have Jesus say I don’t believe in your belief on the last day the day of judgment Jesus has already told us that there will be there will be some will experience the utter anguish of thinking they will be led into the kingdom of God but only to hear rejection from Jesus they will say to them they will say to him Lord Lord didn’t we do so much religious activity for your sake and he will say I don’t know you get out of here you who love and practice sin could God say that for any of you here I’d like to believe that that won’t be the case but I don’t know you only Jesus can see into your heart I know what the scriptures say wide is the road that leads to destruction and narrow is the way that leads to life you find it don’t think that this is a problem just out there oh yeah all those Christian quotes all those false versions of Christianity yeah Jesus is talking about them now Jesus is talking about us he’s talking about even this local assembly and maybe some here who are kidding themselves that they really believe in Jesus that are actually offering him corrupted false worship is that you I cannot think of any more wretched state than to think you are saved when you are not you can fool others you can even fool yourself you can assuage your own conscience but you can’t fool God can’t fool with the Lord Jesus Christ so what should you do what I said at the beginning and what God and by his Spirit by the spirit of Jesus is saying to us in this passage no longer present god with corrupted worship but believe in Jesus it’s time to stop holding back with the son of God give up everything to him every sin every attempt to gain merit with God on your own every out of bounds desire every Idol every Earthly treasure that distracts you Jesus wants all of you give all give up everything you otherwise might hold on to and take the Son of God instead take his perfect life of righteousness take his sacrificial death take his transforming resurrection power that causes you to live a new life of holiness and ultimately take eternal life he offers that to you freely but you have to give up everything else no longer live for yourself or for anything in this world live for Jesus alone no matter what cost might come with that a lot of these would-be disciples they follow Jesus for a while and then they fall away why because it’s teaching not too hard or because there’s some unexpected suffering that came along they didn’t like how the Jews said oh you believe in Jesus we’re kicking you out of the synagogue and they’re like okay I’ll believe in Jesus but I’ll be really quiet about it because I don’t want to upset anybody those are the kind of people that Jesus didn’t entrust himself to says you’re ashamed of me I will be ashamed of you whenever I come meaning you’re not gonna have a part with me live for Jesus live for Jesus alone don’t hold on to sin don’t hold on to a worldly treasure while you attempt to worship God at the same time he’s not going to accept that be willing to suffer righteously no matter what he brings into your life he’s going to use it for good he’s going to use it for his glory but to be a disciple of Jesus means that you will suffer if you’re not prepared for that if you’re not willing to do that then you might have a faith that does not save don’t come to God with conditions don’t say God I’ll follow you as long as you don’t do this as long as you don’t require this as long as you don’t touch this thing in my life I’ll follow you nope come to God without conditions let him set the conditions believe in Jesus you know what you will find eternal life that’s what John is saying Believe In The Name of Jesus truly and you have eternal life in his name you have forgiveness you have peace with God that can be yours but you must truly believe now one more word before we close it is good the Bible says it is good for us to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith we see that in second Corinthians 10. however do not misunderstand the Bible does not teach that we Christians are to walk in terrified introspection being like I think I’m saved but I have no idea I could be wrong no it Bible’s very practical about this if you have something in your life that is a red flag a spiritual red flag you need to address that because that’s should give you doubt as to whether you really belong to Jesus don’t just be like I I have no idea I don’t see anything but maybe I’m wrong no be honest with yourself be honest with What God Says in the description and say oh God says that if I’m walking this way that’s not how a Christian walks that’s something I need to address because maybe I’m presenting god with corrupted worship it’s very practical so ask yourself questions like these do I believe the biblical gospel or am I trusting in something other than Jesus to save me to make me right with God if it’s the latter that’s a red flag am I walking in growing Holiness with Jesus I’m not perfect I still sin but I Repent I turn from it I’m putting these things to death or is your mic is your life marked by habitual and heinous sin and you just keep falling back into it but you’re not really interested in going all out to overcome it you’re not looking for help from other people in the church just keep on sinning oh did it again well I’m a sinner God forgives me that’s a red flag that’s the spiritual red flag that you need to pay attention to because this verse John tells us the same writer who writes John this gospel those who belong to God they don’t walk in sin they do not practice sin it does not what characterizes them something’s dominating your life sin like that you might be presenting god with corrupted worship do you have a desire to know God more and to become more like him or is it the thing that you never really can get around to oh I’m too busy oh I don’t have time for church don’t have time for the Bible don’t have time to serve I got all these other things going on in my life if it’s the latter that’s a red flag Jesus said you seek me first all these other things will be added unto you why are you so worried about all that stuff I’ll take care of it yes be a good Steward but seek me first like a newborn Gemini know about desire the pure milk of the word you don’t desire it don’t care to know Jesus more what’s got your attention instead it’s another question ask yourself are you devoted to something else in your life more than Jesus we raise this a lot in Sunday school and different sermons but what captures your time and attention the most what do you love to talk about what do you love to think about where do you spend your money these can tell you what you really value most in your heart it’s not Jesus or if it’s competing with Jesus that’s a red flag God does not accept syncretism you cannot serve God and money he says you cannot serve God in an idol at the same time if something else is taking your mind heart and affection instead of God that is an idol that you need to repent of because otherwise you could be presenting out with corrupted worship let me give you one more are you living an open life before the brethren you fellowship with them and not just hi see you on Sunday but you are getting to know other people and they are getting to know you they get to know your struggles they’re learning how to pray for you they’re learning how to encourage you instruct you correct you or you just keep yourself away from believers because ah they’re not going to understand me they’re judgmental I don’t really want to be around them that’s too much work that is a red flag I quote this verse a lot but there’s a verse in Proverbs that says he who separates himself seeks his own desire and quarrels against all sound judgment the reason you’re not allowing yourself to be around people could be is because you have an idolatrous desire that you want to serve you don’t really want other people to know about even if that’s not the case it is such spiritual foolishness to be a Lone Ranger Christian if you’re not really going to be around other believers if you’re not really going to let them speak into your life you can easily fall into sin that’s why Hebrews says we are to encourage one another day after day as long as it is called today why so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin hardening by the deceitfulness of sin is the type of thing that can damn you forever and you say I’m fine I don’t think I need to worry about that then you are arguing against the wisdom of God you think you’re smarter than God you think you’re stronger than God no listen to the word if you find yourself spiritually isolated either physically you’re literally not with a Brethren or functionally you’re with them but you’re not really with them that’s a red flag those are the types of things that if you see in your life should say oh maybe I’m offering god with corrupted worship he’s not going to accept that I need to get my life right but if the opposite of those things is true I am not the scriptures are not Christ is not laying any other burden on you you can rejoice in your salvation you can rejoice in offering your sincere worship to God because that’s what God is seeking right he’s going to tell us in John 4 when he speaks at the Samaritan woman it’s not at this mountain or that mountain that God is seeking worship but God is seeking worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth do you believe the gospel if you are devoted to Jesus as your number one if you’re seeking to become more like him if you’re walking with him in Holiness not Perfection but the direction of your life that is seeking after him and if you are maintaining a life of living with the brethren those are all good signs those are the types of things that the spirit of God is going to put Assurance in your heart to say I really belong to God I don’t have to question I don’t have to be paranoid I know my Lord and my Lord knows me and where my shepherd goes I will be with him I will follow he’ll keep me forever that’s something that you can rejoice in but when you’ve got that obvious spiritual red flag in your life don’t just carry on that’s what the Jews did that’s where resulting Jesus in cleansing the temple let the word of God sober you today let’s pray holy Lord we hear a message like this we consider a passage like this and we are brought back to holy fear or at least we should be you are not a God to be trifled with you are not a god for which we can put up a front and then just pretend that everything’s okay no a god with whom we have to do is a consuming fire even as we were learning and meditating on in Sunday school today your Holiness your separateness it is beautiful but it also means that you will act in a certain way you will not tolerate corrupted worship my Lord God may we not test you like the Israelites did the ones with whom you rejected forever you laid them low in the wilderness and said I will never let them enter my rest oh God what a fearful thing that would be for anybody here Lord I pray if there’s anyone here who has been presenting you with corrupted worship walking in sin walking in broken relationships walking in selfishness and pride even while they claim to be serving you oh God I pray that you’d convict them in such a mighty way this morning so they would turn and repent find eternal life because that’s the beautiful thing about you your Holiness your Justice is so Fierce and yet your love is so overwhelming for any who turn to you you welcome him with open arms the banquet of repentance is open you’re putting the ring on his hand the sandals on his feet the robe around him or her and you say come in and enjoy my salvation inheritance I give you it all you don’t have to stand in the corner you don’t have to do some penance I give you it all but you must turn you must give up all those other things so that I can give you myself oh Lord I pray if there’s any who needs to come to the banquet of repentance today that they would and they would see how good it is how good it is to know you Lord Jesus and to walk with you in Holiness God do a great work for your own namesake today and Lord you know all things you know our hearts may it be that we would be found like the disciples whom you accepted and you said here’s an Israelite in whom there is no deceit and not like the Jews that you rejected at Passover saying I know what’s in them I’m not entrusting myself to them oh Lord be merciful to this body to this Gathering and we will give you praise amen