Why Do You Follow Jesus?

Why Do You Follow Jesus?


23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. John 2:23-25

Jesus had just cleared out the Jewish temple because money exchangers turned temple worship into a business.

After doing so the Jews wanted to know, "what sign do you show us for doing these things?" In other words, they want to know by what authority Jesus was behaving like this so they call for Him to perform a sign to prove He is of God.

Apparently, signs had led many to believe in Him during His time in Jerusalem. John says they believed WHEN they saw the signs that he was doing. Signs and wonders would be a crucial part of Jesus' ministry, but they were always a means to an end—that we believe in Him for eternal life.

But here's what struck me about this passage: we find that Jesus knows and qualifies authentic belief in Him. It says, "Jesus … did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man." Why wouldn't Jesus entrust Himself to them? I mean, John said they believed! It's because Jesus knows and qualifies authentic belief. Jesus isn't fooled by flattery. He knows when we are more enthralled by the signs than we are by The Son.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus would address this human desire to see Him as a showman rather than a savior:

"So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” John 4:48

"So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” John 6:30-31

"Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." Matt. 12:38-39

"Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

You can imagine Jesus' heartbreak while being treated like a circus freak by people wanting to see something exciting. This view of Jesus undermines who He is as God. And, unfortunately, it's still alive today in denominations that exalt in miracles and healings and the powerful signs of God over God Himself.

Jesus is concerned with why we follow Him. He searches our hearts to know our motives. He determines why we believe. He's interested in what we seek to gain by following Him.

Have you ever stopped to wonder WHY you follow Jesus each day? Jesus is interested in that. If it's just to feel the rush of His supernatural power then it has become about us in some way. If it's just sign-seeking then we are missing out.

I want a belief that Jesus would entrust Himself to. One that brings Him joy because it's based on the fullness of who He is as God. Jesus doesn't exist solely to bedazzle us with His power, though that is part of how He works to bring us to faith and keep us believing. Jesus exists to glorify Himself. And we exist to glorify Him.

Writer and Theologian John Piper wrote a book called "God is the Gospel" where he contends that our biggest gain in the Gospel is God Himself. The point is, we don't pursue Jesus just to gain health and wealth and friends in church and wisdom for life—rather, we pursue Jesus mainly to gain Jesus! We enjoy the precious gifts of the Gospel, but we treasure Jesus above them all. That’s a proper way to believe in Jesus, and it’s found in a person that I’m sure Jesus would entrust Himself to.

In Christ,
Pastor Kevin