The Discerner of Hearts - Paul Liberati - 8/30/26

This past Lord’s Day, we saw from John 2:23-25 that Jesus performed a number of miracles during Passover week, and though many “believed in his name,” Jesus did not entrust himself to them, "for he knew their hearts."

That raised a number of questions for us, regarding right and wrong responses to the miracles of Jesus, so we took a brief tour through the Gospel of John and examined several cases where people interacted with his miracles, to see what lessons we could learn.

You'll find them below, rearranged and in summary form.

Lesson #1, Signs Point Beyond Themselves

John calls the miracles of Jesus "signs." This is helpful because a sign always points beyond itself, and in the Gospel of John, each one manifests the glory of Christ (Jn. 2:11).

We see this principle again in the raising of Lazarus from the dead: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (Jn. 11:4).

Lesson #2, Signs Are a Means to Faith

John tells us that he recorded the signs of Jesus so that men would be brought to faith: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn. 20:31).

Even Thomas, who insisted on seeing before believing, was graciously accommodated by Jesus, who presented himself as an inducement to faith: “Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing” (Jn. 20:27).

Lesson #3, Signs Are Not Necessary to Faith

When the royal official came to Jesus, asking him to heal his son, Jesus answered his request. At first, the man only had the word that Jesus gave: “Go your way; your son lives” (Jn. 4:50).

At that moment, the boy was healed, so the word itself was functioning as the sign. Yet since it was a sign that could not be seen with the eyes, it was an act of great faith for the man to believe what Jesus said before he saw it fulfilled (cf. Heb. 11:1).

Going back to Thomas, Jesus commended this very thing: “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (Jn. 20:29).

Lesson #4, Signs Don't Guaruntee Faith

Nicodemus is a good example of someone who saw Jesus' signs, and yet could not see what they revealed about him. The closest he could get was to call him “a teacher come from God” (Jn. 3:2), when in reality, Jesus is "God come to teach."

So a man can see the sign, but the full reality it points to can only be seen if God gives him "eyes to see and a heart to perceive" (Deut. 29:2-4).

Lesson #5, Signs Can be Abused by Men

After the feeding of the five thousand, the crowds sought Jesus, yet he saw their motive: “You are seeking me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (Jn. 6:26). They wanted what Jesus could give without wanting Jesus himself.

What's more, the people had a political agenda for Jesus. Seeing his power, they planned to “take him by force to make him king” (Jn. 6:15). The people wanted a military Messiah who would lead them in throwing off Roman occupation. Therefore, Jesus withdrew himself, for their agenda was not according to his Father's purpose.

We do the same when we profess faith in a Jesus who serves our purposes rather than the Jesus who actually exists, the real Son of God.

Personal Application Questions

All of this brought us back to John 2, where Jesus “did not commit himself to them, because he knew all men” (Jn. 2:24).

Ordinary men can be fooled by appearances, a profession of faith, knowledge of Scripture, even enthusiasm in the body of Christ. But Jesus cannot be fooled.

He knows whether our faith is genuine or merely convenient, whether we come to him in our heart of hearts or want only what we receive from his hand.

So then, where do you stand?

Ask whether your faith is truly resting in Christ, whether you are trusting him according to his word, and whether any agenda stands between you and Jesus.

Where you find obstacles, repent and turn back to Christ. Learn to be satisfied in him alone, for in him is everything we need for body and soul.