Who Did Jesus Trust?

I am thinking this morning about trust. Who do we trust? When do we trust? How far do we trust? A couple of verses come to mind.

"Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man." - John 2:23-25 ESV

Jesus was and is wise.

"...who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." - Philippians 2:6-7 ESV

He emptied Himself. His divine ability and knowledge was set aside but as a sinless man He was not cut off from His Father and because He saw the Father He knew not to entrust Himself in certain ways.

"For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them" - Romans 2:14-15 ESV

This is an aspect of trust isn't it? But it is trust based on performance. The word 'Gentiles' could easily be translated 'nations' or 'people that aren't children of Abraham's seed'. In all the variety there is still the commonality of accusing and excusing.

Jesus was a sinless man. He trusted God from the womb. Jesus was full of grace and truth and He grew in it. He also saw very clearly that other people did not operate this way.

Still He took on disciples and trusted them to handle things.

"I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." - John 17:6-11 ESV

Wow.

Jesus trusted God. He gave what God gave. He said what God said. He wasn't accusing or excusing in His heart even when He discerned things He gave grace. There are so many examples of this in the Gospels.

Jesus doesn't say what He says in John chapter seventeen in front of successful people. The disciples still didn't understand so many things. They trusted Jesus but their performance was far from stellar. They had already misrepresented God several times. They wanted to call fire down from Heaven and they shushed men who wanted healing who cried out too loudly. Jesus had stepped around them many times.

Jesus knew His words would do a work. They did. His Father was faithful.

Who do we trust? When do we trust? God gave Jesus discernment. He will give it to us also. Jesus trusted God and looked at hearts. We can't afford to be foolish or naive but can we look past performance? Today is another day to listen to our Father and walk by faith.

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