John 2:23-25
By Drew Zuverink
"Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person."
People come to Jesus for many different reasons. Whether it's for prosperity, happiness, peace, comfort, guidance, or for selfish reasons, not everyone comes to Jesus seeking the same things. Coming to Jesus is important, but the motivation for doing so is equally as important. Jesus is not impressed simply because someone seeks him out, it matters to him why they are doing so. The Jews in Jesus' day were attracted to Jesus because of the miracles he was performing, but Jesus did not entrust himself to them because he did not approve of their motivation.
Jesus is a person, he is not a genie in a bottle or a self help guru. When we come to Jesus with an attitude of, what can Jesus do for me, we insult his value as a person. I mean, how would you feel if your friends spent time with you, not because they liked you as a person, but so that they could use you to make their life better? It wouldn't feel very good right? Jesus feels the same way when people come to him for selfish reasons instead of simply because they like who he is and want a relationship with him.
Verse 25 reminds us that Jesus knows what is inside of each person, and that makes the difference between who he entrusts himself to and who he does not. Jesus cares about our hearts - he wants our affection, our love, our friendship. So why do you want Jesus? What is it about him that makes you want him to be a part of your life?
Jesus promises to enter into relationship with anyone who comes to him out of a pure heart. So it isn't the golden child who seems to never do anything wrong that Jesus entrusts himself to. It isn't the well spoken pastor or the church folk that seem to know so much. It isn't the people we look at and think, "Surely Jesus wants them." No, it's the sinful people who cry out from the deepest parts of their hearts, "God I need you!" It's the people who think that Jesus is so wonderful and wonder, "Would he really want a relationship with me?" It's the people who plead, "Jesus there isn't anything all that special about me. I'm plain and ordinary, but you are everything that I wish I was. Please, I don't have much to offer, but look inside of my heart, because I'll give you that. I will give you my love and affection because you deserve it." If that is what brings you to Jesus, rest assured, he will befriend to you.
So why come to Jesus? Come to Jesus because you love him. Come to Jesus because you like him as a person. Come to him because you want a relationship with him. Come to him for the forgiveness of your sins. Because Jesus says in John 6:37, "All those the Father gives to me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." Come, for his arms are open wide.