Do You Know Jesus?

As a teenager, my parents sent me to a Christian youth camp during one of my high school holidays. On the first day of the camp meeting, there was a boy who sat next to me during the morning and afternoon sessions and we decided we would sit next to each other for the evening session.  We soon found out we had a lot in common such as our month of birth, age, and mutual friends. During breaks, we talked a lot about our churches, schools, and the things we observed at the camp. By day three of the camp meeting, it felt like we had known each other for ages. On day four after the morning session, there was an announcement that anyone who could play the drums should meet the camp choir director because the designated camp drummer had to leave the camp to attend to an emergency. Someone tapped me and asked why my seat partner wasn’t going to meet the choir director. I answered, “what do you mean?” and he replied “Isn’t he your friend (referring to my seat partner)?’’ I responded, “Yes, he is” and he said “why doesn’t he want to play the drums here? You know he is a good drummer”. This was new information to me as I had no idea someone I just claimed to be my friend had such capacity and skill. I was in a rush to claim him as a friend but in truth, I did not know him.

In Matthew 16:13 -16, Jesus asked His disciples “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”. They replied; “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then Jesus personalized the question; “But who do you say that I am?”. Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Shortly after this conversation, Jesus Christ instructed His disciples not to tell anyone that He was Jesus the Christ (Matthew 16:20). I find it interesting that He could reveal himself to a selected few even when He did not want to go all-out public about His identity at the time. What made this possible? – Relationship.

While it is good to re-echo the testimony of others about Jesus, we become alive to our relationship with Him when we unashamedly talk about our personal testimony of Him. Do you know Jesus or you just know about Jesus? Click To Tweet

Jesus first revealed Himself to those He had a personal relationship with. Some of us speak of Jesus as the man whose birth we celebrate every December 25th, some as the man who died for the sins of the world, some as a prophet and teacher, some as a “theological concept”, some as a miracle worker and healer, others as a king and leader. But how many of us have a personal relationship with Him? Are you willing to embrace the fact that He is the Messiah who died for your sins and not just the sins of the world (sins of others)? What is your testimony of Jesus? Your testimony of Jesus can only be borne out of a place of relationship and fellowship with Him. While it is good to re-echo the testimony of others about Jesus, we become alive to our relationship with Him when we unashamedly talk about our personal testimony of Him. Do you know Jesus or you just know about Jesus?

In some Bible translations such as the King James Bible, we sometimes see the word “know” or “knew” used in a sexual context. For instance, “And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain…” (Genesis 4:1). “Knew” here is translated from the Hebrew word “yada”. In this context, this word is given a sexual meaning. Interestingly, the same word (yada) is used in the bible to mean “comprehend” or “understand”. We see this in passages such as Ezekiel 30:8; “Then they will know (yada) that I am the LORD, when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed”. Consider Exodus 6:7 “I will be to you a God: and yea shall know (yada) that I am the Lord your God”. Therefore, “to know” or “knowing” someone has a deeper meaning than just knowing about them. It is relational and personal.

Knowing Jesus connotes intimacy – a relational knowledge, not intellectual or theoretical knowledge. In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus clearly states that: On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Do you really mean it when you say “I love Jesus” and do you have fellowship with Him? Does Jesus know you? Do you only embrace the knowledge of casting out demons in His name or doing mighty works in His name but reject His invitation to be washed and delivered from your sins? Do you only honour Him with your lips but your heart is far from Him? (Matthew 15:8). Do you claim to be friends with Jesus but yet the influence of this friendship is missing from your life?

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. – Philippians 3:10

Paul had sacrificed his life (Acts 20:24), earthly relationships (Acts 20:36-38), his freedom (Acts 21:13), and his comfort for the sake of the gospel of Christ. Yet, he still wanted to know Christ more. In other words, knowing Christ is a continuous process and not a destination or height we attain. Paul was hungry to know the power behind His resurrection, he wanted to experience that life-giving power. This power gives life now and until eternity. Spreading the message of the gospel of Jesus should be our priority but that will only be possible when we decide to grow in our knowledge of Jesus through a personal relationship with Him. A personal relationship with Jesus reflects the realities and benefits of God’s saving grace over us. How hungry are you for Jesus in your life?

Knowing Jesus connotes intimacy – a relational knowledge, not intellectual or theoretical knowledge. Do you know Jesus?

It is not enough to hear about Jesus, it is not enough to talk about Jesus, it is not enough that our works are backed with the name of Jesus, it is not enough that we are busy for the sake of the gospel and it is not enough that we celebrate Jesus. We must fellowship with Jesus Christ and have a personal relationship with Him. This relationship will transform us and get rid of emptiness and dissatisfaction (John 6:35).

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