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.
Church leaders have a name for those who profess to be Christians but only come to church twice a year. It is “Chreasters” because we see them at Christmas and Easter. In this story in John, after Jesus cleansed the temple and before the night visit by Nicodemus, we see this story of what may have been called “Passers”. They were there at Passover and possibly the other two major feasts, Weeks and Booths. Here they were and they saw Jesus and believed, went forward, and professed faith. From verse 24 and 25 we see that Jesus was not impressed. Gerald Borchert says, “Jesus did not believe their believing.”
That is a good lesson for church leaders today and those we meet in the world who profess faith in Christ but only at Christmas and Easter. The remainder of the year they look like everyone else. If Jesus does not believe everyone’s believing, neither should we. This is where we become disciplers as well as disciples. We are sent to make disciples, not converts. May we be discerning and perhaps skeptical when we hear people claim to be Christian. Jesus told us how to identify a good tree. You will know them by their fruit.
Dear Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit and that you help us know truth from error. Give us special discernment to know when to believe someone’s believing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church