This study was first taught on February 11, 2014

Topic: What We Are Talking About (5)

(use the audio to study)

---

Background
The last time we met on the subject of “Knowing Jesus”, we discussed personal encounters which do not qualify as knowing the Lord Jesus. We saw that although meeting with a person is more significant than just hearing about him, yet a one-time or one-off meeting, cannot qualify as sufficient to lay a claim to knowing the person so met. We observed that had the encounter of Saul of Tarsus, been the one-time meeting with the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, he probably would have remained blind, which would have turned many people away from desiring to meet with the Lord.

Indeed, we noted that knowing someone requires more than a one-time encounter. Hence, to be able to know the Lord Jesus, we would require more than a one-time or one-off encounter—frequent and repeated; and, deep and meaningful interactions with the Lord, is what will be required before we can truly lay claim to knowing Him. We affirmed that to have had just one or may be a few encounters with the Lord Jesus for the purpose of receiving a benefit each time, like, a healing, a miracle, a deliverance, etc., cannot constitute to knowing Him. In fact we said that any claim to knowing Jesus on the basis of such self-seeking encounters, no matter how many and how frequent they may be, makes such a claim spurious (that is, doubtful, bogus, unauthentic).

Taking a cue from blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, who followed the Lord in the way after his eyes were opened, we noted that such an act of following the Lord in the way is a right step in the direction of knowing Jesus—it does not in itself constitute to knowing the Lord, but it is a good beginning in the journey to knowing Him. We also noted that like Saul of Tarsus, we need to take time out, away from the ‘noise’ of human presentations, and go to the Holy Spirit, to receive direct revelation, through the word of God, as to Who the Lord Jesus Christ truly is. Indeed, we stated that it is only proper that we should desire to know the One Who opened our blind eyes, and our deaf ears; Who gave us speech when we were dumb, and, strength in our ankle bones when we were lame, thus enabling us to walk; and, Who saved our souls, so that we might come and be with Him in eternity. This is the task that, by the grace of God, we shall begin to pursue henceforth!

Scripture Text(s)
1 Kings 10:1-10
Tonight, drawing from the story of the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon, we shall see what is implied when we say we want to know the Lord Jesus. We pray that as we study, the Holy Spirit will grant us the grace to do more than the Queen of Sheba did, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Queen of Sheba travelled over land, desert, and the sea to hear King Solomon speak after she had been told about his wisdom and wealth. After we have heard of the Lord Jesus Christ, or have even been saved through faith in His Name, what have we done to signify that we are reasonably interested in knowing the One Who saved our souls?
John 4:25-30, 39-42; Luke 19:1-5; Mark 10:46-52; John 1:35-39; Matthew 11:28-29; Ephesians 4:17-21; Matthew 16:13-26; Hebrews 12:6; Mark 3:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:9-10; John 15:14-15; Matthew 13:3-11; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.

Conclusion
A lot of people have been introduced to the Lord Jesus at one time or another, but whether or not they did anything beyond the mere introduction they received is another matter entirely. When we talk about knowing the Lord Jesus, we are talking about the steps we are taking or have taken in order to have a vital ongoing and significant relationship with Him.

Having been introduced to the Lord, or having received salvation, a healing, a miracle, and so on, from the Lord, it is imperative that if we are going to know Him, we must first be reasonably interested in Him. We have seen that Zacchaeus’ interest in the Lord after he had heard of Him, endeared the Lord Himself, to Zacchaeus. Andrew and John, after they had heard about the Lord from John the Baptist, followed Him and spent the night with Him—this was to be the beginning of a relationship that endured unto eternity. If we are reasonably interested in the Lord, we would take the next step which is to interact with Him, by engaging Him in conversation, asking questions, and seeking to know more about Him. The more we know the Lord through our various interactions with Him, the more we want to be involved with Him, which then leads us into more intimate relationship with Him. Such intimacy requires our investing time, energy, and other resources to keep our relationship very vital and significant. This is what “Knowing Jesus” entails.

As we can see, “Knowing Jesus” is a process, which culminates in revelations of the type that is not given to just anybody; in a friendship that cannot be broken; in the knowledge that is not given to those who are neither interested in, nor interacting with, the Lord on a regular basis; in a relationship of trust that is not based just on good times only, but also in tumultuous times; and, in a relationship that endures to eternity. May God grant us grace to achieve this friendship with our Lord, Jesus Christ.

---

Back to all Bible Study Outline List