Knowing Jesus (6)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on February 18, 2014
Topic: Why Should We Desire to Know Jesus? (1)
(use the audio to study)
Background
In our study last week, we saw that it is possible to evangelize others, have received a miracle or healing from the Lord Jesus, and still not know Him. Indeed, we noted that a lot of people have been introduced to the Lord Jesus at one time or another, but whether or not they went beyond that introduction to desiring to know Him, is a completely different matter.
We saw last week that when we talk of “Knowing Jesus”, we are speaking of a process which will bring us into a vital on-going relationship with the Lord Jesus, and which only begins when we are introduced to Him. An introduction does not and cannot in itself constitute knowing Jesus! However, an introduction can generate interest enough to begin the process of seeking to interact with the Lord. Thus, after we have been introduced to the Lord, through preaching, as a result of a miracle, a healing, or some other means, it is only if we are reasonably interested in Him afterwards that we can go beyond this introduction to get to know Him through interaction with Him. We noted that Zacchaeus’ interest in wanting to see the Lord after he had heard of Him (that is, after he had been introduced to the Lord) made him to do certain inconveniencing things like climbing up a tree to see Jesus. Such an action, which proved Zacchaeus’ interest in the Lord, endeared the Lord Himself, to Zacchaeus. Thus, we inferred that when we become reasonably interested in wanting to know the Lord Jesus, there are discomforting and inconveniencing sacrifices we would have to make, like, giving up on worldly pleasures, parting ways with friends and family, denying yourself and taking up your cross, etc. And when we begin to make these sacrifices, we shall discover that the Lord has all along desired to reveal Himself to us. Again, after John the Baptist introduced Andrew and John to the Lord, they followed Him (a sign of their interest in Him), and spent the night with Him, which meant that all previous engagements were cancelled, thus making the necessary sacrifice to interact with Him—and this was the beginning of an enduring and eternal relationship! Thus, our interest in desiring to know the Lord, would lead us to interact with Him. Through interaction with the Lord, we have access to engage Him in conversation and ask questions, and, learn from, and of, Him—observing the way and manner in which He does things, and seeking to know why. Indeed, we said that we must be joined to the Lord and learn from Him; and this is the interaction that we shall have with Him, if our knowing Him is to profit us. As we interact with the Lord frequently, we become more and more involved with Him, which opens us to a more intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus. Such intimacy will require our investing time, energy, money, and even our very life, in order to keep our relationship very vital and significant.
No matter how well you are introduced to the Lord, you still have to desire to want to know Him for yourself. Such knowledge must be a personal quest, rather than a corporate request, and it will culminate in revelations that are reserved for those who are truly interested in the Lord Jesus, and who interact with Him frequently; a relationship of trust that endures both good and tumultuous times; and, an enduring, unbreakable, and eternal relationship of friendship with the Lord.
Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 16:13-26
There came a time when the Lord Jesus asked His disciples a question, which answer would have seemed obvious: “Whom do you say I am?” And although they all gave answers to an earlier question: “Who do men say that I the Son of man am?” only Peter gave an appropriate answer to “Whom do you say I am?” Peter’s answer was not corporate, but personal; for the blessings pronounced by the Lord was specific to Peter, and by extension, to all those who come to the true knowledge of who the Lord Jesus Christ is. Tonight, we pray that God, by His Spirit, will help us to see why we should know Jesus for ourselves personally, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Our scripture text supplies us with some reasons why we should desire to know Jesus for ourselves as individuals. We shall now review these reasons.
Matthew 21:10-11; 13:54-57; 14:1-2; John 8:47-48, 49-59; 1:19-37, 43-50; Matthew 11:2-6; John 14:7-9; 1:18; 13:21-26; Mark 9:2-8; 2 Peter 1:16-18; Revelation 1:9-17; 5:1-10; Matthew 20:20-28; Acts 9:1-16; 2 Corinthians 5:16.
Conclusion
Tonight, we have seen some reasons why we should seek to know the Lord Jesus. The need for you to desire to know the Lord Jesus, is because:
1. Majority can be wrong! Although many people across all walks of life thought that they knew the Lord, it turned out that only one, Peter, through divine revelation was able to say whom the Lord Jesus truly is. Knowing Jesus is to be personal; not corporate!
2. You cannot depend on the knowledge that other people have of the Lord, no matter how well they may claim to know Him. Listening to them could be misleading; and besides, nothing beats knowledge based on personal interaction and intimacy.
3. Just as Jesus’ disciples were one day confronted with how well they really knew Him, so will you; either by the Lord, by someone you are evangelizing, or someone who wants to know the Lord. How embarrassing it will be, if you were unable to give an appropriate answer borne out of your personal interaction and intimacy.
4. The most trusted revelation, which carries with it, certain spiritual blessings, still does not compare with a firsthand experience of the Lord. As wonderful as a revelation is, it is still an introduction that should create in you, the interest to want to know the Lord for yourself personally.
5. We are likely to believe that being born again is to enable us have a jolly good time or a jamboree; which is not the case. There are many people whose faith in the Lord have crashed because they had a wrong notion of who He is, and what He is about. Indeed, there are sacrifices involved in a relationship with the Lord Jesus, and it is as we come to know Him more and more that this is revealed.
Next week, we shall be looking at some more reasons for desiring to know Jesus, but for now, let us ask God to help us by His Spirit to have firsthand personal interactions and intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ on a daily basis.
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