The Father testifies concerning man

John 2:24-25 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man. These two verses are insightful. First, Jesus did not believe in man’s believing as a result of merely undeniable facts, such as signs. The word entrusting comes from the word pistis (faith), which comes from the root peitho (to persuade or convince). When we believe something, we trust in it. Jesus did not trust in man’s natural faith. Nor should we. Second, Jesus knew all men. The comment is interesting because John didn’t say that Jesus knew these specific believers in His name, but that He knew all men. He knew what was in them, namely, the sin of unbelief and the inability of man to generate within himself new life. He knew He could not entrust Himself to any man unless the Father testified to Him that they were His, which leads us to the next insight. Third, Jesus didn’t need anyone to testify or witness on behalf of man because the only testimony He needed was the testimony of the Father, that is, revelation by the Holy Spirit in the hearts of men concerning who He is. We see this most clearly in the encounter between Jesus and Simon Peter recorded in Matthew 16:16-18. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Do you see it? Once Jesus heard His Father’s testimony on Simon’s behalf, the declaration that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, He knew Simon could be trusted with the keys of the kingdom. No one else could testify for Simon that He believed in Jesus’ name. God-wrought faith is the testimony of God concerning each man. I get this from Hebrews 11. In verse 2, it says, “For by it the men of old gained approval.” The word translated approval is the same root word in John 2:25 translated testify. So, faith is an assurance or a testimony that men receive or gain from God, which testifies of His approval. Then the author went on to write about God testifying to Cain, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and many more that they were righteous by giving them faith. Without the testimony of His Father, Jesus would not entrust Himself to anyone. So we learn from these verses that there’s a difference between the testimony of men who say they believe in Jesus and the testimony of God that produces saving faith in Jesus. Love for God and love for His people is the fruit of God’s testimony concerning a man or woman. That’s why I say we have been called to glorify God by living to love with Jesus. It is God’s testimony to us that we truly have a God-wrought faith to which Jesus entrusts Himself. Please follow my line of reasoning. Love is the fruit of His life. If love is the fruit of our lives, not that we are perfect in love all the time, but that it is the practice of our lives, then Jesus has entrusted Himself to us. Isn’t that assuring?! Living to love with Jesus is God’s testimony to the world that we are His and Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.