Knowing Jesus

  

At the end of a sermon with a gospel invitation, the speaker often says something about introducing a seeker to Jesus. While I know that Jesus welcomes those who seek Him, is this really how it works? Can I say to someone words that open his heart and mind to know the Savior? It seems to me that is not possible. If a person wants to know God, then isn’t God the one who introduces or opens their hearts to know Him?

Today’s devotional says knowing God is essential. Jesus did say that without this knowledge, we cannot have eternal life…

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

However, a few verses later He also says…

“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. (John 17:6–8)

He gives the words and the seeker receives and believes them, yet it is God who both reveals and gives what is needed, including the words needed and the faith (that comes by hearing, Romans 10:17) to believe, and all we need to have that life and godliness. I can tell others this good news but it is God who makes Himself known.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, (2 Peter 1:3)

When I encounter someone that I’ve never met, I can ignore them, or I can make myself known to them in conversation. They are able to do the same. Revelation of self to someone else is not up to the someone else, or even to the person doing the introductions. That person can tell the other some things about me, but knowing information is not the same as really knowing.

Today’s reading say we get to know Jesus by studying His life and pondering His words, but I could do that with anyone who has a biography or talks about their thoughts and ideas, yet that is not the knowledge Jesus refers to that pertains to eternal life. It is far more intimate. 1 Corinthians says that He gives us even His mind. No person we meet can do that.

I’ve been married fifty-three years and do not have my husband’s mind. As much as I talk and reveal my thoughts, he does not have my mind either. But we do have the mind of Christ and that gives us a communication level, even a knowledge level, that rises above reading and studying. The only thing we can do to deepen our knowing is… “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3) yet even this depends on His desire to reveal Himself and obedience is the evidence rather than the means that I do know Him.

 For Christians, knowing Christ is a legitimate boast. The OT prophet declares:

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23–24)

And the NT writers also knew the wealth and wonder of knowing Jesus:

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8)

PRAY: Jesus, knowing You is the delight of my life. Do I boast about it and about Your love, justice, and righteousness? I should — far more often than I do. Knowing You is the most important thing in my life just as You are the most important person ever to walk this planet. I’m so thankful that You revealed yourself to me and continue to keep showing me more about You. You are a wonderful Savior!

Treasures?

 

Early in life I collected stamps. Later, it became pictures of Elvis Presley. After that, all I wanted to collect was information. Sometimes I save to my hard drive photos of art and fine quilts, just to look at and not possess because God has been teaching me something…

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19–20)

I’ve wondered if growing weaker in body and memory is the reason for wanting to declutter, but when I read these verses, I think that the folly of collecting stuff is basically, “I cannot take it with me.” When my father died, he left the only possessions he was using — his electric shaver and a bottle of aftershave in a small cardboard box.

I look around me: three computers and an i-pad, a smart phone, yards and yards of fabric, sewing equipment, books including a stack of cookbooks, kitchen stuff, a full pantry, a full closet, an SUV and a bike, and so on and realize if God called me home today, none of it, even the most used or most loved stuff, would go with me. Possessions are really not mine anyway. All of it is on loan and I’m to be a good steward of it.

In the OT, God’s people were given a far more valuable possession:

And the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel. (Numbers 18:20)

What an amazing gift from God — Himself! This ensured that the Levites were content to live without any other possessions because in having nothing, they possessed all things, for God was their possession.

This remains true for God’s people now. Many NT verses speak of it, first concerning His supply of the necessities of life, but also all we need to serve and glorify Him:

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31–33)

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, (2 Peter 1:3)

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

All my physical possessions are supplied by God if I make seeking Him a priority. All spiritual needs are supplied by God as I serve Him. By grace, He gave me Jesus. By grace He supplies all that I need. I can only conclude that if I have any physical possession that I do not need or use, it should belong to someone else. Not only that, I learned from my generous sister that if I give something away yet eventually need it, God will somehow give it back to me. In other words, He is my resource, no one and nothing else.

PRAY: Jesus, it is easy to see that when my hands are full of my own things, I cannot fully grasp  possession of the things that are eternal. As today’s devotional says, only empty hands can grasp a gift, receive the filling and the gifts that You give. Forgive me for any glorying I have done over my possessions, physical or otherwise. May You enable me to be a good steward and wisely deal with anything that is not for me and could be helpful for others. You indicated that when my life is emptied, I am more able to receive what You want for me. I can get too distracted by my stuff. Give me wisdom for this decluttering task.

Having nothing yet possessing everything

Part of the spiritual gift of teaching is a strong desire to collect information so as to have it to pass along to others. While this means being good at trivial pursuit games and sharing household hints, its main purpose is knowing the will of God and the Word of God so well that cross-referencing and making connections is easy.

The downside or fleshy side of this inclination is collecting useless stuff. I noticed that last month. Some people collect spoons, or mugs, stamps, Avon containers, salt shakers, and all sorts of things that are displayed but without purpose. Today’s devotional points out that some “strive to get possession of certain experiences, some seek after ecstatic feelings, some try to make themselves rich in theological views and dogmas, some store up a long list of works done and results achieved, some seek to acquire illuminations or to accumulate gifts and graces” as if they will enhance their reputation with others and with God.

Paul wrote about events in his life and included his thoughts on collection/possession of stuff:

We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:8–10)

Having nothing yet possessing everything seems like a contradiction. However, at this stage of my walk with Him, I’m beginning to understand. Having nothing means being emptying myself of all that I have, meaning my ideas, skills, wants, burdens, everything — so that I depend on Him for everything. That is, what I have has no value to me and can be released, set aside, useless to me and unable to fulfill any of my needs and certainly useless when it comes to help others or meeting their needs. Instead, He will supply. Paul means having nothing apart from God and relying on Him means I have everything.

Jesus lived by this principle. First He emptied Himself by being in the form of god but “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but made himself the form of a servant… and humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.” He had nothing, but lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Of this, He said: “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) He applied this to knowing what we need to know: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26) This means I can put information into my head but don’t need to dote on my ‘collection’ for it is the Holy Spirit who brings it out when it is needed.

Paul emptied himself and said of it: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8) He knew that loss was a gain for he also wrote: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) and pointed to this attitude with lines like:

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12)

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, (1 Corinthians 3:21)

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

The Apostle Peter had the same attitude. When encountering a cripple beggar, He said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6) He later wrote: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3)

Not only does God want me to rely on Him but also remember that His supply may come through His family, not collections or any of my means or devices. He says, “All who believed were together and had all things in common.” (Acts 2:44) Being interdependent is one more way to empty myself.


PRAY: Jesus, You know how independent I can be. I can handle most things, and I do rely on You for much of that, yet tend not to rely on others very much (except my dear hubby) but this idea of having nothing yet possessing everything includes a willingness to be served as well as to serve. You graciously accept the offerings of Your people. I need to be more like You.

Jesus is God’s full and final revelation

What goes on in my life and in the world is often a puzzle that raises the question, “What is God doing?” However, most of the time the answer is found by taking another look at Jesus. For instance, the mess that is happening in Israel and Gaza is awful. God, what are You doing? Then I think about Jesus. He is God the Son, innocent of all sin, light and truth, yet He was brutally crucified. That seems the worst thing that could ever happen, yet God made it the best thing that ever happened. The death of Jesus meant wrath on sin was satisfied and that forgiveness is available to all of humanity. Since God can do that, and since He is sovereign, the mess in any part of the world cannot limit the power of God.

This Jesus answers my questions. He is God’s full and final revelation, waited for by generations. Even a sinful woman from Samaria who met Him at a well knew that God would send Him. She didn’t know yet that the man who talked to her was the Messiah when she said to Him: “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” (John 4:25)

The expectation of that time, even among the Samaritans, was that the Messiah would bring to them the full and final revelation of God. This is affirmed in the NT:

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1–2)

The OT revealed God in bits and pieces, each part true but not clear because the revelation was incomplete. Jesus came and the puzzle came together, yet His people didn’t expect what they saw. Their messianic hope had been cherished for centuries, but had a political foundation. However, He came to save them from their sin, not from those oppressors who ruled over them.

Nevertheless, Jesus fulfilled the OT promises and is God’s final revelation of Himself. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Two of my favorite Bible verses are about the identity of Jesus and the reason He came:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:18)

Jesus is God in human flesh, like us yet not like us, amazing in power and humility, sinless yet greatly concerned for sinners. Paul also wrote: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)

It seems late in my Christian life to finally realize the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. He is the fullness of divine revelation, meaning I need nothing more, not only for being able to trust Him in a world gone haywire, but for what He has done in my life. These personalized verses tell it all:

I am complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:10)

His divine power has granted to me all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called me to His own glory and excellence. (2 Peter 1:3)

Someday, when He appears and I see Him as He is, I will be like Him. (2 John 3:2)

PRAY: Jesus, starting the day with You and in worship is making such a difference in my life, not only in the practical ways that chores and so on go smoothly, but in my innermost being. You give me a peace that passes understanding and a calmness of heart during challenges that once kept me upset and anxious. The more You reveal God to me, the more I experience that incredible grace and truth that is setting me free. Thank You.

PONDER: How can I rely more fully on all that Jesus is and does, and in faith bring Him the glory that is due?