John 2:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

NIV: He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

NASB: and because He did not need anyone to testify about mankind, for He Himself knew what was in mankind.

CSB: and because he did not need anyone to testify about man; for he himself knew what was in man.

NLT: No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.

KJV: And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

NKJV: and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

Jesus didn't need anyone to educate Him about human nature nor other people's thoughts. He knew exactly what each person needed to know and what they needed to hear. This is why He didn't trust everyone claiming to follow Him in Jerusalem (John 2:24). That withheld "trust" meant not revealing more of His divinity and power (Matthew 13:10–11; Mark 4:10–12). He knew many of them were just following to see more miracles. Jesus will prove His ability to reach people right where they need it over and over.

With the woman at the well, an outcast among outcasts, He will use acceptance (John 4:23–24). With someone like Nathanael, He used dry humor (John 1:47). With Nicodemus, a legalistic and educated man, He will use deep thinking (John 3:10). The comment that Jesus knew "what was in man" is the bridge connecting the cleansing of the temple to the conversation with Nicodemus in chapter 3. Immediately after saying that Jesus knows all about man, and what was in man, John 3:1 says that "a man of the Pharisees" came to see Jesus. Part of that conversation will be Jesus proving that Nicodemus isn't as spiritually wise as he thinks he is.

John 2:24—3:15 describes a meeting between Jesus and a Pharisee. The last two verses of chapter two highlight the fact that Jesus knew men better than they knew themselves. Nicodemus was the ancient equivalent of a politician, cleric, and professor all rolled into one. Jesus proves that this man doesn't understand religion as well as he'd like to think. In contrast to the loud, public spectacle of clearing the temple, this encounter is a private, nighttime meeting. Their actual conversation was probably longer than the summary recorded here.

Jesus attends a wedding where He performs His first miracle: turning water into wine. This symbolizes a transformation of human rituals into divine sacrifice. Few people are even aware that a miracle has occurred. Jesus then drives crooked businessmen out of the temple, scolding them for turning a sacred area into a crass marketplace.

Chapter 2 begins to show Jesus' "signs," or miracles, which will prove that He is the Savior. The miracles will become more spectacular over time, but they start quietly. Contrast is an important part of the gospel of John. The quiet, joyful miracle at the wedding is starkly different from the loud public spectacle of clearing the temple. Jesus' first miracle symbolizes His mission. During the temple clearing, He also predicts His death and resurrection. This sets the stage for Jesus' private discussion with Nicodemus, a respected and influential man.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.