Scripture Reading: John 7:25-36
"But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from…" John 7:27I love to watch professional golf, either in person or on TV. Just like any golf fan I have my favorite players and I tend to pay more attention to them during the tournaments and in the news. In a lot of ways you could say that I know them. I know their game and golf accomplishments, I know about their lives off the course and I could recognize them anywhere. The truth is that I know quite a bit about them, but I don’t know them personally. I don’t hang out with them, they don’t call me to talk, I don’t know the deep things in their heart. I guess when you think about it, I really don’t know them at all.
This same scenario happens in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Just like with me and the pro golfers, the question is, do we really know Jesus or do we just know facts about him? The people in Jerusalem thought they knew him. They knew he was a carpenter’s son who was raised in Nazareth and they knew he was an engaging teacher who performed great miracles. They knew quite a bit about him, but they really didn’t know Jesus. There is so much more to Jesus than just what we see. Jesus said, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him" (v28). It’s almost as if he said, "So you think you know me? You really have no idea."
For those of us who grew up in church or have been a Christian for a long time, it’s easy to get the false sense that we already know Jesus as well as we’re ever going to. We still want to grow closer to Him, but honestly, we think we already know him. But do we? Here is short quiz. Tell me if you know this man. He is our Advocate, the Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins, the Author of Life, the Author of Salvation, the Beginning and End, the Bread of Life, the Capstone, the Chief Cornerstone, the Christ, our Creator, our Deliverer, Faithful and True, our God, the Good Shepherd, our Great High Priest, the Head of the Church, the Heir of all things, the Holy One, the Hope of Glory, the Judge of the living and the dead, the King Eternal, the King of Israel, the King of kings, the King of the Ages, the Lamb of God, the Life, the Light of the World, the Eternal Spring of Living Water, the Lord of All, the Lord of Glory, the Lord of lords, our Master, the Mighty God, the Morning Star, the Only Begotten Son of God, Our Great God and Savior, the Resurrection and Life, the Righteous One, our Rock, our Teacher, the True Light, the True Vine, the Truth, the Way, the Word. So you think you know him?
If you want to get to know the real Jesus, then you must get to know Him personally, not just as someone you admire from a distance, but someone you really connect with and learn to love and trust. Knowing Jesus is much more than knowing facts about Jesus, it’s having a relationship with Him. It’s spending time with Him, listening to Him, sharing your heart with him, and getting to know his heart for you and others. Has your Christian life become dry and lifeless? Perhaps it’s because you think you already know him as well as you’re ever going to. But there is so much more to Jesus, and you should really get to know Him!
© 2010 David Soper, Inspired by the Word of God. All rights reserved. Scripture from New Living Translation
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