Passage Read: John 1-2
Meditation Verses: 2:23-25
Thought
People were believing in Jesus because of the signs He was performing, but John then goes out of his way to note that Jesus wasn't entrusting Himself to them. Jesus knew people. Jesus knew how fickle they could be, how easily or eagerly they would believe in Him when they see some sign or receive some benefit. He knew how hard it would be for them to truly follow Him, how unwilling they would be to sacrifice for Him and His Gospel's sake. He knew how easily they would turn against Him when He didn't perform as they wanted. So He never let His guard down around them, no matter how much they professed to love Him.
Application
It is exciting to hear about people coming to Christ, especially when it is great crowds of them. But especially when there's a big emotional movement, there will also be many false converts. They love Jesus in the moment, but when things get hard, when Jesus starts asking for more change and growth and sacrifice, some who once professed devotion will walk away. Some will even turn against Him. The real believers are the ones who believe in and through the fire. It can be hard in this day and age and comfortable context to discern who truly believes, so I would do well to withhold my trust in those who claim to believe until they have been tested and proven genuine by trial, by obedience, by endurance.