We
have here the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate. Pilate asked Jesus: “Art
thou the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33). Jesus replied: “Sayest thou
this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?” (John 18:34). It
means: “Did you arrive at this conclusion that I am the King of the Jews based
on your own observation or did you hear it from someone else?”
Do
you know Jesus? I’m surprised that many know more about their sports heroes
than they know about Jesus. When it comes to Jesus, do you know Him or just
know about Him? The scribes and Pharisees did not know Jesus or the Father, but
they THOUGHT they did. Even so, many Christians do not know the Lord, but they
THINK they do.
Why
must we know Jesus? There are two reasons. Firstly, because our eternal life
depends on Him: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the
only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). Christ
is the source of eternal life: “In him was life” (John 1:4). He didn’t
come to point us to eternal life; He is eternal life: “I am the
resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live” (John 11:25).
Secondly,
our faith depends on us knowing Him: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). It cannot be emphasized enough
how the study of God’s Word, the Bible, is paramount to knowing God better. We
must, “as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may
grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Unfortunately, many lack the desire to want to
know more about Jesus.
The
lack of knowledge about the Saviour is the result of many having little faith.
The words of the Samaritans are encouraging: “Now we believe, not because of
thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the
Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:42). They had a faith which they
could call their own.
We
can have this same faith as the Samaritans. We can know Jesus and not just
about Jesus. What do I mean? Most of you know something about me, but only my
wife truly knows me. Likewise, there are many who THINK they know Jesus. They
follow Him and attend church. But they hardly know their Saviour.
To know Jesus is to keep His commandments: “He that
saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth
is not in him” (1 John 2:4). Jesus concurs: “He that hath my
commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me” (John 14:21).
Indeed, there are many professors of Christianity whom the Lord will say to
them: “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23). Denominations THINK they know
God but in their works they deny Him (Titus 1:16). Our Lord says: “Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but
he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew
7:21).
How
can we know the will of the Father? Study, study, study; there’s no other way.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Do
you know Jesus from your own study or you get it from someone else? How did you
get to know Jesus? First, someone told you about Him and brought you to church.
You believed in Him after a while. But, now you need to continue to study to
know your Lord. Your faith will only grow stronger each day as you increase in
your knowledge of Him: “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:17).
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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