Jesus Knowledge of Humankind
[Read John 2:23-3:10]
Earlier this week Rachel and I were walking around Walmart, picking up a few odds and ends that we needed around the house. The entire place we decked out with Halloween goodies and decor. They were working really hard to set the mood of the store for Halloween. They even had Halloween music playing over the loudspeakers of the store to help everyone get in the spirit of Halloween. As we were walking out of the store, we heard a song coming out of the speakers, “Them bones, them bones, them dry bones. Them bones, them bones, them dry bones. Them bones, them bones, them dry bones. Now hear the word of the Lord.” They actually thought it was a Halloween song, because they can only associate skeletons and dry bones with Halloween.
Instead, that song is about the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. This powerful vision that God gives Ezekiel, where he enters this valley and the ground is covered with dry, dusty bones. And the Lord speaks to Ezekiel and says, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel responds saying, “Only you know that, Lord.” Then the Lord tells Ezekiel to prophesy over those bones—to speak the Word of the Lord over those bones. When Ezekiel begins to speak the Word of the Lord over them dry bones, the bones come together and flesh is put on them, but there is still no life in them. They were just dead, lifeless bodies. Then the Lord told Ezekiel, “Prophecy to the breath (or to the wind). Tell the wind to come from the four corners of the earth and breath life into these lifeless bodies.” And the wind blew—and the Spirit came—and brought life into the dead bodies. And when it was all said and done, a great, living army stood before Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones.
This isn’t a song about Halloween, it’s a song about every human being. Apart from Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, we are dry bones and lifeless bodies. Or to use another analogy that could easily be mistaken for a Halloween reference, in Ephesians we’re called dead men and women who are walking around (kinda like zombies). That’s our condition. And since we don’t ever think of ourselves that way, when people hear references to skeletons and zombies, we think about Halloween—but we should really be thinking about ourselves. That’s who we are apart from Christ. That’s the image and picture we’re given. So, this afternoon, when you see a bunch of skeletons and zombies running around looking for candy, I think it should be a reminder that—apart from Christ—that’s who we are and we need the Word of the Lord and the Power of the Holy Spirit to give life to our dry bones and dead bodies.
Really, that’s what this entire passage is about this morning. And we’re taught this through an interesting story. The story begins by giving us—what sounds like—good news. We read, “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.” (John 2:23, ESV). Doesn’t that sound great? People were seeing the signs that Jesus was doing and were believing in his name. That’s a good thing, right? And not just a few people, we read that MANY people believed in his name. It was a pretty large group of people that believed in Jesus’ name because they saw the signs that he was doing around Jerusalem. That’s a good thing, right? Isn’t that what we want happening? Isn’t that the goal of our work and ministry?
Yet, the next few verses should cause us to pause and think a little bit. We read, “But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” (John 2:24–25, ESV). This is the group that could be called “the mushy middle” and we’ll see it throughout the Gospel of John. Some encounter Jesus and embrace him. Some encounter Jesus and reject him. Others encounter Jesus and just hang around him, and we’re told that Jesus doesn’t entrust himself to them.
Isn’t that confusing, though? If they believe in Jesus’ name, why didn’t Jesus entrust himself to them? Actually, the same word is used for “believed” and “entrust,” so it’s kind of a play on words that these people trusted in Jesus’ name, but Jesus did not entrust himself to them.
Why? We’re told why: He knows humanity and He knows what’s inside them. Jesus knows these people better than they know themselves. So, he knows that their faith is not a true faith. That’s why he doesn’t entrust himself to them. Their faith was not based on Jesus Christ—or the Gospel—but it was based on his signs. And that’s completely different.
We’re explicitly told that these people believed in Jesus’ name “…when they saw the signs that he was doing.” (John 2:23, ESV). So, it’s a faith based on his signs. Here’s why that’s not a true and authentic faith. They see Jesus’ signs and miracles, they are moved by those signs and miracles, they are impressed with the signs and miracles. They are even impressed with the one who performs those signs and miracles—he must be powerful and have authority. So, they believe that Jesus has power and authority and follow him around, hoping that he will use his power and authority to bless them. Maybe he will do a miracle for them. Maybe he will use his authority and power to benefit them. Yet, as we’ll see throughout this Gospel, the moment Jesus says something hard or difficult—the moment Jesus demands something from them—they scatter—they walk away mumbling and grumbling.
True faith is very different. True faith doesn’t rest on the signs that Jesus has done, it doesn’t rest in the powerful works of God, but it rests in Jesus Christ himself and the Gospel. True faith is BOTH a knowledge that Jesus has brought about forgiveness and restoration in our lives, but it’s also a conviction in our heart that Jesus has brought about forgiveness and restoration in our lives. It’s a knowledge and conviction that Jesus has cleansed us from our sins and is turning us into a new person. So, when Jesus has hard things to say to us—or demands something from us—true faith doesn’t walk away, but grabs hold of Christ, listens to what he says, and follows him.
I want to spend some time on this because I think it’s extremely important. Each person in this room—or watching on the livestream—needs to ask themself if they have a false faith or a true faith. I am constantly running into people who say, “Of course I believe in God” or “Of course I believe in Jesus,” but what they mean is that they believe God exists or that Jesus existed. That’s not a true, saving faith. I hear people all the time that say, “Yeah, I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again,” but that’s also not a true, saving faith. I hear people take that even further and say, “I believe Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins,” but the moment Jesus demands something from them or says something difficult, they walk away. As hard as this may be for some of you to hear, that’s also not a true, saving faith.
True faith is not just knowing the right things—although that is important. True faith connects both the head and the heart. You know the right things, but then you believe them deep within your heart. Your life is changed by the things you know and hold to be true. Ultimately, true faith is based on Jesus Christ and the Gospel. True faith knows that Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins and then lives every day, trusting in that forgiveness and living out that forgiveness. True faith in Jesus Christ doesn’t walk away when he demands something from us or says something hard, but actually pulls in closer saying, “That sounds hard, and I may not understand it, but I trust you, I will follow you, I will do what you’ve told me to do, go where you’ve told me to go, and will say what you’ve told me to say.” That’s what a true, living, saving faith looks like.
When we get to the story of Nicodemus, we’re actually being given an example of someone who saw the signs of Jesus and believed in his name because of those signs. So, this is a story that elaborates on what has just been said. And it’s not a coincidence that John tells us that Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. Some think Nicodemus came to Jesus at night because he was afraid, others because he wanted some uninterrupted time with Jesus. That’s not why John tells us this little detail. He tells us this detail because it connects to a metaphor that he’s been using—and will continue to use—throughout the gospel—the metaphor between light and darkness. The fact that Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the dark, is a clue that Nicodemus is not walking in the light yet, he hasn’t received Jesus yet, he’s still confused and not seeing things rightly.
That’s why we get this interesting interaction between him and Jesus. Nicodemus comes to Jesus and says, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2, ESV). Now, that’s true, right? Jesus IS a teacher that has come from God. Jesus can only do those signs because he has come from God. So, Nicodemus isn’t wrong, and you may expect Jesus to say to Nicodemus, “Good job. You’re tracking along well. You’re understanding things rightly. You’ve figured some stuff out.” But that’s not how it goes.
Instead Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3, ESV). This is a rebuke of Nicodemus. Jesus begins by saying, “Truly, truly…” which is a way of emphasizing the point he’s about to make and making sure people are paying attention. You could almost say Jesus is saying, “You listen here buddy, you think you’ve seen some things rightly because you’ve seen the signs I’m doing. Let me tell you something, you can’t even see the kingdom of God unless you’ve been born again.” Basically, Jesus is saying, “You haven’t seen anything and don’t know anything because you still haven’t been born again. All you’ve seen are the signs. You haven’t seen beyond the signs to the truth they are pointing to and the reality they are pointing to and you haven’t been able to do that because you haven’t been born again.” That’s why Nicodemus is part of the “mushy middle” crowd who doesn’t have true faith, because he hasn’t been born again.
Now, I wish I knew the tone in which Nicodemus responds to this when he says, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4, ESV). Some have said he asked it out of sarcasm, mocking Jesus for his answer. I’m not sure I believe that any longer. I think Nicodemus is genuinely confused and wanting to know what Jesus is saying. He wants to know HOW can a man be born again when he is old. Surely, he can’t enter back into his mother’s womb. So, how does that happen?
That’s why Jesus responds by saying the same thing he said earlier, with some additional information. Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5–8, ESV). This is Jesus’ answer to Nicodemus’ “How?” Jesus says, “I’m not talking about a physical rebirth. I’m talking about a spiritual rebirth—one that happens through the power of the Holy Spirit. Unless you’ve been born again, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God, nor can you even see the Kingdom of God.” Another way of saying this is that, unless the Spirit comes and gives life to your lifeless body, you will continue to be nothing but dry bones.
Interestingly, Jesus tells Nicodemus, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:7, ESV) but Nicodemus’ first response is, “How can these things be?” (John 3:9, ESV). He marvels at them and Jesus rebukes him again saying, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?” (John 3:10, ESV). And there’s an emphasis on “the” in this passage. Nicodemus is THE teacher of Israel—one of their main teachers, if not the head honcho. So, Jesus is saying to Nicodemus, “You are the head honcho, the main teacher of Israel, the president of the seminary, someone set apart for bringing the Word of God to Israel, and you don’t understand these things?” There’s a tone of incredulousness to this statement.
The reason Jesus is incredulous is because this isn’t a new teaching. Jesus isn’t saying anything that hasn’t already been said a million times before. I’ve already shown you how this is deeply connected to the Valley of Dry Bones, but it’s everywhere throughout the Old Testament. Herman Ridderbos says, ”The prophets of Israel repeatedly spoke of a fundamental inner change and of the promise of the Spirit to that end (Ezk. 11:19ff.; 36:26f.; Is. 44:3; 59:21; Jr. 31:31ff.; Ps. 51:10)” (Ridderbos, 132). There is a repeated emphasis that the physical things and signs weren’t enough—physical circumcision wasn’t enough, they needed to be circumcised in their heart. God’s people have always needed to be transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit and be born again in order to see and enter the Kingdom of God.
You know, the entire point of this passage is to help us see one important truth. We’ve given an example of those who believe in Jesus because of his signs and are reminded that it’s not a true faith. But then we hear Jesus telling one of those people that they must be born again by the Holy Spirit in order to see rightly and enter the Kingdom of God. The point is a reminder for all of us that the only way we can have a true faith is through being born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s the only way. You can’t earn it. You can’t receive it by being a smart, intelligent, powerful person. You can’t try hard enough. You can’t do it because you are dry bones, dead men/women walking. The only way you can come alive and have a true, living faith is by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When that happens, something beautiful happens. In contrast to Jesus’ reaction to those with a false faith, when we’re born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus entrusts himself to us. He says, I will be your God and you will be my people. We were told this in the first chapter of John. We read, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:11–13, ESV). Those who received Jesus and believed in his name (notice that they receive Jesus, not just his signs) they are the ones who were born of God—not their own strength or family—but born of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. And those who were born of God, God has entrusted himself to them and made them children of God.