TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s Gospel (Jn 2:13-25) relates Jesus’ first cleansing of the Temple early in His ministry, just days after His “coming out” party: the Miracle at Cana.

Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all,
and did not need anyone to testify about human nature.
He himself understood it well. (v. 24-25)

“Jesus…has serious reservations about their belief in him…They believed in him, but he did not trust or believe in them: the Gospel uses the same word for ‘believe’ in the previous verse and for ‘trust’ in this verse. Jesus did not entrust himself to them because he knew them all. Jesus knew that Nathanael was a true Israelite , without duplicity (1:47); he has insight into what is in the hearts of others. He knew those who were impressed by the signs he worked, and he judged their belief to be insufficient for him to trust himself to them. the Gospel does not spell out why their belief falls short, but it implies that there are degrees of belief in Jesus, some of which are inadequate. Perhaps people were impressed by the signs Jesus worked but did not sufficiently perceive what the signs signified about the one who worked them; perhaps they were still on the first rung of the ladder of belief. Even though Nathanael believed in Jesus (1:49), Jesus called him to greater belief (1:50-51). this Gospel was written to call its readers to greater belief (1:50-51). this Gospel was written to call its readers to greater belief in Jesus and greater perception of who he is, even as it used the traditional titles of ‘Messiah’ and ‘Son of god’ t proclaim him (20:31).” (Bringing the Gospel of John to Life, 59)

“Jesus’ miracles moved many to recognize that he had extraordinary, divine powers. But that falls short of perfect theological faith. Jesus knew their faith was limited, and that they were not very deeply attached to him: they were interested in him as a miracle worker. this explains why he did not trust them (cf. Jn 6:15, 26) ‘Many people today are like that. they carry the name of faithful , but they are fickle and inconstant’, comments Chrysostom (Hom. on St John, 23,1).

“Jesus’ knowledge of men’s hearts is another sign of his divinity; for example, Nathanael and the Samaritan woman recognized him as the Messiah because they were convinced by the evidence of supernatural power he showed by reading their hearts (cf. Jn 11:49; 4:29). (The Navarre Bible: St John, 66)

Despite what it says in the immediately previous paragraph, I’m not sure Jesus had to call on His divinity (remember Philippians 2:6) to discern what’s in the heart. Two things come to mind:

1. It seems to me we often forget that Jesus lived for thirty years a “hidden life.” Hidden does not mean hiding from the world, though. I suspect Jesus was a keen observer of His fellow man. How many nasty people came into His dad’s (and later His) workshop? How often did customers refuse to pay the full amount or pay at all? How did Jesus feel when He became the complaint department? How much gossip did he hear when in town or delivering goods? He saw plenty of human nature (which He shared with us) on display, maybe more so because He grew up in a small town and not a thriving metropolis — everybody knew each other’s business and some, undoubtedly nosed their way in.
2. Jesus, being the perfect man, without concupiscence clouding His intellect, would have been particularly sensitive to others’ feelings, emotions, and masks. He knew sincerity or lack thereof when He encountered it.

Jesus reads hearts. What will His reaction be when He finishes our tome?

Jesus Cleansing the Temple (ca. 1655) by Bernardino Mei

God bless.