NATURE of our FAITH. JOHN 2:23

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.
JOHN 2:23 ESV

23 Ὡς δὲ ἦν ἐν τοῖς Ἱεροσολύμοις ἐν τῷ πάσχα ἐν τῇ ἑορτῇ, πολλοὶ ἐπίστευσαν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, θεωροῦντες αὐτοῦ τὰ σημεῖα ἃ ἐποίει·
JOHN 2:23 SBLGNT.

In this passage, we see Jesus describing the nature of the people’s faith by “seeing signs which he was doing”. However, it was not the attestation to Jesus words that had kindled the faith similar to the first six disciples, which was confirmed by the first miracle at Cana. However, we must not regard this remark about the character of the faith of these many believers as implying that the signs Jesus wrought were not intended to produce faith, which would conflict with their character as “signs” and with passages like in JOHN 5:36 – “36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.”
JOHN 10:37-38-“37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
And JOHN 14:11-“11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. “

Faith may well begin by first trusting in the signs. Nevertheless, the signs and the Word belong together like a document and the seals attached to it, as the mentioned passages show. The seals alone eventually amount to nothing, while some advanced from the signs to the Word and thus, believing both, attained abiding faith.
Others saw the signs clearly but refused the Word and remained in unbelief. When some today would take the Word and yet discard the signs, they invalidate the Word itself, a vital part of which the signs remain and fail in faith. The signs establish the Word that all who began and who now begin with the Word and then accept the signs attain true and abiding faith. The “many” in Jerusalem still hung in the balance with such inadequate faith as they had.

While the incidental object “his signs” only intimates that during this week Jesus wrought such signs for the public, the added relative clause with its imperfect tense ἐποίει, “which he was doing” or “kept doing,” declares that Jesus wrought a goodly number of such signs. However, John relates none of them; in his Gospel, he records only certain select miracles, most clearly and directly serving his purpose. We have seen one of these, that at Cana. By telling us that the “many” in Jerusalem rested their faith only on the signs, which Jesus kept doing, John does not need to add that during this week, Jesus added to the signs by also testifying by his teaching. Hence, the “many” passed by, giving it little, too little, attention.

When we seek answers in our lives, we are flooded by the many worldviews and philosophical contentations to discern and find answers. Many worldviews provide elegant teachings and assesments to a fruitful life; however, they lack the basis of their assessments since many only offer subjective, collective views that seek to fit your narrative. The Christain worldview is grounded in documented and verified testimonies that reveal the essence of the divine nature of Jesus Christ. Some other competing worldviews even attest to the miracles and works of Jesus Christ but deny his divinity since it would undermine their own religious doctrines.

Do we continue to select narratives that fit our objective goals, or do we submit to the complete revelations in Jesus Christ? There is no middle ground, and unless we are committed fully to him and his teachings, we will continue to fall short of our journey.

DON’T ALLOW OUR NARRATIVE TO DICTATE THE DIVINE NATURE OF GOD’S TRUTHS

GOD BLESS

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