Really Knowing Jesus

There is a difference in knowing about someone and actually knowing them.

Actually knowing someone requires time, interaction and shared experiences.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.John 17:3

• Not just facts about Jesus

To know Jesus, we must also know the power of His resurrection.

The resurrection was the greatest display of power. It defeated sin, death and the grave.

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.John 10:17-18

The resurrection showed Jesus’ absolute power over the physical and spiritual realms.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;Hebrews 1:3

• We refer to this as omnipotence and it is an attribute of God alone.

The Law cannot change a man, only the power of the resurrected Christ in the believer.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.Romans 7:18

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.Romans 8:11

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.Romans 6:4

To know Jesus, we must also know the fellowship of His sufferings.

We are not meant to experience the suffering of the cross.

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.Hebrews 10:8-10

We will experience the sufferings of living in a world hostile to the Gospel.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.John 15:18-19

And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;Philippians 1:28-29

To be like Jesus, we must die to self.

As Jesus died to make an end of our sin, so must our old man die to be like Christ.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:Colossians 3:1-5

We will know Jesus fully at the resurrection.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.1 Corinthians 15:51-53

Knowing Jesus is walking as He walked.

Knowing Jesus is living in obedience.

Knowing Jesus requires intentionality.