The Lord Jesus Christ knows what is in our hearts. He knows the thoughts that occupy our minds. He knows how deeply our faith runs and the hunger and thirst in our souls. The relationship we have with Him means that we can trust Him with every detail of our lives. We cannot avoid the fact that He knows the real us.
“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did” (John 2:23).
Many today only believe in Jesus because of some miracle they have seen. Others follow Him because of some exciting experience in the past. It is possible to have this level of faith and still not have a personal relationship with Christ. He does not “commit Himself unto them” because He knows what is in their hearts (John 2:24).
On the surface they may appear to have faith in the Lord, but it is shallow and whatever testimony they give will be fleshly and exaggerated. Jesus does not need spin-doctors for He does not need “that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man” (John 2:25). Why do people see the need to stretch the truth with regards to miracles in their meetings? What is the motive of their heart? Usually money! The Lord knows these people and avoids them.
Only to those who know Him personally, despite the miracles, does the Lord commit Himself. Such people have faith in His word and desire to live holy lives unto Him, rather than expecting a further dose of excitement or more food for their stomachs. Those who follow the Lord for personal gain and success have no interest in self-sacrifice. Notice that the prosperity and faith teachers never preach about holiness and separation.
“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:1-2).
Nicodemus, though he was a priest, did not truly know God. He came to Jesus because he had a deep hunger in his soul for truth. He was a learned scholar, yet he was as unsaved as the worst of sinners. He was no different from the majority of people who attend places of worship today. They know about God, and may know some of the Bible, but they have no personal relationship with Him. But unlike these religious people Nicodemus knew that he was a sinner in need of a Saviour. Who did he turn to? His superiors in the Temple? No, he knew that he was as spiritually dead as himself. He turned to Christ for the answer.
Was his night time visit to Christ a sign of his fear, or was it simply that he wanted to have unhindered fellowship with Him? Sometimes the business of everyday life can rob us of the spiritual satisfaction we can only find in Christ. We too need to spend time in His presence so that we can get to know Him better. Nicodemus had heard the stories but needed to meet Jesus face to face. Jesus committed Himself to this salvation-seeking priest and showed him his real need, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (3:4-7). He got the answered he needed, though it was not the one he expected. The Lord cut right through his religiousness to the heart of the matter. He needed to be born again if he was to enjoy a right relationship with God.
Unless we come to Christ how will we be filled? He alone knows what each one of us needs. It is not the fleshly desires of the miracle-seeking crowd, but the earnest desire of a hungering heart that shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
Jesus has a “verily, verily” for us too. He does not mollycoddle us, overlook our sin or leave us wallowing in religious self-righteousness. He wants to effect a change in our hearts. The miracle true followers seek from Him is the greatest of all, the cleansing and renewal of the soul.
Superficial religion may appear exciting, but its adherents receive nothing eternal from God. Those who seek Him for the right reasons never go away empty. We cannot fool the omniscient Lord for He knows who and what we are. “O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether” (Psalm 139:1-4).
Page created 7 April 2006