Christians: What do these verses mean?

Question

John 2
23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25 He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Whose testimony was John talking about? What were they saying?

True Bball Fan,
I actually think that you mean to help, in an odd way. But perhaps it's best if you stick to Bball. We are talking about important things right now.

I am tonight, NOT going to give anyone a thumbs up of thumbs down. That is someone else's doing.

Answer 1

They were guided by the outward man of flesh, rather than by the Spirit. They hoped to get something from him, some miracle, but had no spiritual knowledge of him. Circumcision of the heart is of God, and cuts away our looking to the flesh by giving us a spiritual eye. Their eyes were not single, and a double minded man is not trustworthy.

Answer 2

Because it's "allegory" and "mystery" we need to look at more than three verses to get the full con-text of this vs that.

Not to mention John is the only "verily verily" gospel account having two resurrections, with the latter "of damnation". So that is why we have four gospel accounts to look at, and why Mark (surname of John) and John are followed by Luke's writings, notably to set in order what is perhaps out of order.

I prefer the KJV, when studying the allegoric mystery; Not to mention the theme of John Chp 2 in 2:1 is "the third day"; which is actually the seventh day when counting the days in John 1 & 2... which things are an "allegory" and a "mystery".

John 2:23-25 (KJV)
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. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men], And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

God(Grace) is not a man, that he should lie(law).

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 3

Going from an objective viewpoint, like I do my best to, We have to remember that Jesus was Fully God and Fully man. He relied on The Holy Spirit of God to give him knowledge and revelation in to things. When the Bible talks about "testimony" it is usually refering to agreement or witness. Like someone giving a "thumbs up" to what someone else is doing or has done. The people at this time were in need of The King, The Messiah, that would rid them of the Roman occupation of the time and even restore the things of the Temple and put the corrupt religious rulers in thier place. jesus knew this, and He also knew the only reason that the people wanted anything to do with Him was because they thought this of Him and the miraciles He was doing. They were ready to make Jesus King, like David was king. Did that help?

God Bless you and guide you into His Truth.

Answer 4

I'm not sure exactly how to take this, but I'd like to quote the
"Message Bible" by Eugene Peterson.
John 2:23ff, During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God. entrusted their lives to him. But Jesus didn't entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were.
He didn't need any help in seeing right through them.

Answer 5

I believe these verses show that Jesus has perfect knowledge of the human heart and he knew these people were not true believers. They were only intellectually convinced of who He was. He would not entrust Himself to them because He discerned that their profession was not from the heart and because of His ability to read their hearts He manifested His omniscience through the power of the Holy Spirit. These people were surface believers who were stirred by emotions because of the miracles but there was no depth, their belief was temporary and shallow. They were still lost and dead in their trespasses and sins. Jesus did not rely on man's testimony about their belief being real because only through the witness of the Holy Spirit comes the testimony of true belief in God.

Answer 6

Sorry but.. why are christians so obsessed with evil and death and hell and eternal damnation and torture??? Focus on the good not the bad, heaven more than hell, peace more than hate. The only way to make evil go away is not to pay any attention to it. Otherwise, evil is all around. Christians... heh. Old testament never once mentioned any devil or any place called hell but hence the NT comes up with the random idea that there is a hell and a devil. And no, in the story of job the ADVERSARY wasn't the devil. If you knew hebrew you'd know, it's always read the wrong way to fit a certain religion.

Answer 7

This is about the appearance of the spiritual idea.
He would not entrust himself to them because He knew they were not fully committed to Him, as he knew what mortals held onto, even when truth was revealed to them.

Answer 8

It means he could already see the evil and sin in mankind, and he didn't need anyone telling him what this one done or what that one done. He knew what was in man.

Answer 9

Jesus was sent to earth on a mission that humans who lived in that period of time could not understand. What those people were looking for was a king to lead them out from under the Roman yoke and who would provide everything that they needed by means of God's blessings in a similar manner as that of the times of David and Solomon. That is what the reference "he did not entrust himself to them" means.
Look at later events mentioned in chapter six:

(John 6:14-15) 14 Hence when the men saw the signs he performed, they began to say: "This is for a certainty the prophet that was to come into the world." 15 Therefore Jesus, knowing they were about to come and seize him to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain all alone.

Jesus had a balanced, realistic view of his disciples. He well knew that they were not perfect. After all, he could read human hearts according to the reference at John 2:25. Even so, he saw his disciples not simply in terms of their imperfections but in terms of their good qualities. He also saw the potential in these men whom Jehovah had drawn. John 6:44 " No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him; and I will resurrect him in the last day." Jesus’ positive view of his disciples was evident in the way he dealt with and treated them.

(Luke 7:37-48) 37 And, look! a woman who was known in the city to be a sinner learned that he was reclining at a meal in the house of the Pharisee, and she brought an alabaster case of perfumed oil, 38 and, taking a position behind at his feet, she wept and started to wet his feet with her tears and she would wipe them off with the hair of her head. Also, she tenderly kissed his feet and greased them with the perfumed oil. 39 At the sight the Pharisee that invited him said within himself: "This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman it is that is touching him, that she is a sinner." 40 But in reply Jesus said to him: "Simon, I have something to say to you." He said: "Teacher, say it!" 41 "Two men were debtors to a certain lender; the one was in debt for five hundred de·nar´i·i, but the other for fifty. 42 When they did not have anything with which to pay back, he freely forgave them both. Therefore, which of them will love him the more?" 43 In answer Simon said: "I suppose it is the one to whom he freely forgave the more." He said to him: "You judged correctly." 44 With that he turned to the woman and said to Simon: "Do you behold this woman? I entered into your house; you gave me no water for my feet. But this woman wet my feet with her tears and wiped them off with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss; but this woman, from the hour that I came in, did not leave off tenderly kissing my feet. 46 You did not grease my head with oil; but this woman greased my feet with perfumed oil. 47 By virtue of this, I tell you, her sins, many though they are, are forgiven, because she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48 Then he said to her: "Your sins are forgiven."

(Matthew 9:10-13) 10 Later, while he was reclining at the table in the house, look! many tax collectors and sinners came and began reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 But on seeing this the Pharisees began to say to his disciples: "Why is it that YOUR teacher eats with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 Hearing [them], he said: "Persons in health do not need a physician, but the ailing do. 13 Go, then, and learn what this means, ‘I want mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners."

Jesus wanted to help people to change so that they could be reconciled to God and enjoy his forgiveness and blessings.

Answer 10

hiii...i like your question, i try to answer....
those verses tell us that many people believe in Jesus only because he performed miracles, and of course they'd love them.
[probably they said to Jesus, "...Jesus, please perform more miracle, we believe in You...]
Since Jesus knew what they thought, Jesus didn't believe what they said, because they didn't really believe in Jesus as messiah and his teachings...
May Lord Jesus bless you...