Our Lord's work in Jerusalem.
After the temple incident, there seemed to be a disposition upon the part of the people to accept him.
I. MARK THE PUBLICITY OUR LORD GIVES TO HIS MISSION. "When he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast." He selected a time when he could put himself in contact with the whole nation gathered to one of their annual feasts. He must show himself to "Israel," and not only to the people of its capital. He must come "unto his own," whether they will accept him or reject him.
II. MARK THE WIDESPREAD MOVEMENT IN HIS FAVOUR. "Many believed in his Name, when they saw the miracles which he did."
1. The nature of their belief.
2. The ground of their belief. "When they saw the miracles which he did."
(a) Yet it did not spring out of any previous preparations of the heart, and did not lead to any definite or permanent result of a spiritual nature.
(b) Their belief, after all, nominal as it was, was better than the utter unbelief of the Pharisees and scribes after they had witnessed the signs and wonders of the Lord.
III. MARK CHRIST'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THESE MERELY NOMINAL DISCIPLES. "But Jesus did not commit himself unto them."
1. He was not elated by their ready acceptance of him.
2. He "had no faith in their faith," and, accordingly, he either withheld from them the fuller instruction intended for disciples, or withdrew from them into the more congenial society of those who were "disciples indeed."
3. Mark the reason of this conduct. "Because he knew all men."
(a) not in the scales of worldly estimation,
(b) but in the scale of heavenly realities.
This thought ought to humble us in the deepest self-abasement in his sight.