A Matter of the Heart

It is fascinating to note how Jesus dealt with different people. He never dealt with any two individuals in precisely the same way. He would look beyond the outward veneer and see their hearts. When a person was really seeking and a miracle was in order, Jesus did one. There are numerous miracles He did for hurting, searching people, like blind Bartimaeus, or the woman whose child was sick, or the woman who spent everything on doctors and needed a miracle, or the ten lepers who came to Him, looking for His touch.

But when people came to Jesus with the wrong motives, it was a different story. In fact, on some occasions, He did not even reveal Himself to them. For example, John 2:23 tells us that when Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover, many people believed in Him when they saw the signs He did. But it goes on to say, “Jesus did not commit Himself to the, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” (vv. 24–25). Here were these people who believed after they saw Jesus’ miracles, but He would not commit Himself to them. That really seems strange, doesn’t it? But let’s consider what the word “commit” means. It means, “to entrust someone with something.” Jesus would not entrust these people with His truth. If they were true seekers, Jesus would have revealed Himself to them.

These people who saw His miracles weren’t seeking with their whole hearts. They were merely excited about the miracle Jesus had done on that particular day. Therefore, Jesus would not commit Himself to them.