Knowing
“And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
John 17:3
You might have heard the phrase, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” I’ve found this to be partly true, especially when it comes to job hunting. Perhaps you have too. A personal relationship with the right person can open doors. This is why the networking platform LinkedIn, with 750 million members, is so popular.
Jesus placed a great deal of emphasis on knowing the right person. In fact, in the High Priestly Prayer in John 17, Jesus says “eternal life” comes from knowing “God, and Jesus Christ...” Knowing Jesus is the key to the Christian life. He is the one who opens the door to the Father. Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also.” (John 14:6-7) We cannot grow closer God without growing closer to Jesus.
I suspect most people reading this will have this type of relational knowledge. Most of you have some sense of who Jesus is and what He has done for you. However, I hope that our connection to Jesus extends beyond that of a mere acquaintance. Over time, like any healthy relationship, that friendship should grow in closeness and intimacy. As Christians, we should desire to know Jesus the way we know a spouse or best friend.
If you feel like your relationship with God has not been growing in this way, all is not lost. Jesus is always there to welcome us back, even if we do not feel like we know Him that well. The reality is He knows us. As Jesus reminds us, “I know my own and my own know me.” (John 10:14)
If you would like to deepen your relationship with Jesus, here are three simple ways forward. First, pray to Jesus that you may know Him better; He will surely answer your prayer! Second, seek to know Him through the Scriptures. It is in God’s Word we begin to develop the mind of Christ. Third, come to church and meet Him through our participation of corporate worship. It is here that Jesus meets His people through the preaching, the fellowship and the sacraments.
