— John 2:23-25 —
The Passover in Jerusalem was buzzing with excitement. Signs and wonders stirred the crowds. People began to believe in Jesus’ name—but only at the surface. John tells us that though they believed, Jesus “would not entrust Himself to them, for He knew all people.”
At first glance, it may feel discouraging. Why wouldn’t Jesus commit Himself to those who claimed to believe? But here we see the heart of our Savior: His love is never shallow, and He isn’t fooled by appearances.
Admiration vs. Surrender
The faith of the crowds was built on spectacle. They were amazed by His works, but not yet ready to trust His words. There is a difference between admiring Jesus and surrendering to Him. Admiration is stirred by what He can do; surrender is anchored in who He is.
Many of us face this same temptation. We may love the blessings, the answered prayers, the miracles. But do we love Him when life feels ordinary, when prayers feel unanswered, when faith costs us something?
We easily run to Him when we ask for something, but we are quick to turn our backs on Him when the answer isn’t what we wanted. We praise Him in seasons of abundance but doubt Him when we face lack. Deep down, we forget that His will is above ours.
And then, there’s the issue of control. In every situation—especially the ones we are most desperate to escape—we tend to push aside God’s will and do what seems right in our own eyes. We cry out in frustration, wondering why we’re still stuck, without realizing we’ve been ignoring His leading all along.
True faith requires not just admiration but surrender. It means letting go of control, trusting that God’s timing and purposes are better than our own.
This is where the true cost of faith comes in. Faith is not cheap; it is not a quick fix to our problems, or a ticket to an easy life. Jesus Himself said:
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23
That means faith will cost us our pride, our desire to control outcomes, and even our attachment to comfort. It calls us to trust God when obedience feels risky, when the crowd walks away, and when His will doesn’t align with ours.
The crowd in Jerusalem loved the miracles but weren’t ready for the cross. Shallow faith seeks blessing without surrender; true faith says, “Even if He does not…” (Daniel 3:18).
True faith is the willingness to follow Christ, not only into the light of miracles, but also into the shadows of sacrifice.
Jesus Knew—and Still Loved
What strikes me most is this: Jesus wasn’t dependent on their approval. He didn’t need human applause to validate His mission. He knew the weakness, inconsistency, and hidden motives in the hearts of people—and still He loved, deeply and unconditionally.
Take Judas, for example. Jesus knew from the very beginning who Judas was and the betrayal he would bring. Yet, He welcomed him as a disciple, shared life with him, and loved him. That is how gracious He is. He does not hold our mistakes against us but loves us even more, because He knows He is the only One we truly need.
This is good news for us. He knows the darkest corners of our hearts, the doubts we wrestle with, the sins we can’t seem to shake. Yet, His love does not shrink back. It is a deeply personal, knowing love. He sees the image of God stamped on us, even beneath the cracks of our brokenness.
This passage challenges us to examine our own faith.
- Do I only believe when I see spectacular answers to prayer?
- Do I admire Jesus from a distance, or have I entrusted my whole life to Him?
- Am I more concerned with man’s approval than with God’s delight?
- Am I willing to embrace the cost of following Him, even when it means laying down control, pride, or comfort?
True faith moves beyond admiration into trust, beyond wonder into obedience, and beyond convenience into surrender.
Jesus doesn’t commit Himself to shallow faith, but He always invites us deeper. The same Savior who “knew what was in each person” also knows you fully and loves you completely, and He is always ready to guide you deeper into faith.
May our belief not rest in signs alone but in the One who is the Sign Himself—the Word made flesh, the faithful One who gave His life for us.
Reflection Questions:
- Where in your walk of faith are you tempted to settle for admiration of Jesus rather than full surrender to Him?
- What might embracing the true cost of faith look like for you today?
