John 2:23-25
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. If you haven’t read the Introduction to John’s Gospel, read it here.
While you read John 2:23-25, keep in mind that the word “trust” in verses 23 and 25 can mean either superficial belief or true faith that is given by God.
Imagine for a moment that you have gathered with many others to celebrate a religious holiday. As you move among the crowds, you notice a commotion forming around a man. You ask about the man and are told that he has just restored sight to someone who was blind. You join in with the people following this man and you see for yourself when he lays his hands on a person with a badly injured leg and the leg is restored to full health.
Imagine that several people around you begin to speculate that this man is a hero come to set things right in the world.
Sit with this scene for a moment and imagine what you might be thinking or feeling. Would you be quick to trust this man, or would you be skeptical? Imagine the questions that might arise as you witness miracles taking place.
We all need hope, and sometimes when a person acts in ways that give us a feeling of hope, we want badly to trust them. But to really trust someone, we have to know them.
Take a moment to evaluate how well you know Jesus. You might want to place yourself somewhere on a spectrum of 1-5 with 1 being “not well at all” and 5 being “well enough to trust him fully.” Talk with Jesus about your answer.
Read John 2:23-25 again paying special attention to Jesus’ response to the people who “trust” him.
Jesus is so in tune with God the Father that he is able to remain clear-headed even as enraptured crowds gather around him. He knows that the trust these people place in him is based on the miraculous signs they are witnessing, but they do not understand who he truly is nor why he came.
How would you describe Jesus? How would you explain why Jesus came to earth?
Spend a few moments contemplating your answers to these questions. Then consider asking Jesus to help you lay down any false notions you have about him so you can know him as he really is and trust him fully.
Spend a moment in silence. If you sense that there is an action you need to take to know Jesus better, take a first step today.
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