Knowing Jesus

October 7, 2024

Yesterday I wrote about how critical it is to know Jesus. But what does it mean “to know him?” God doesn’t want us to get this wrong, so he made sure John told us. 

“Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:” —1 John 2:4-5 

There is only one way to get to know someone: spend time with them. Lots of time. Time is what makes the difference between knowing ABOUT someone and KNOWING them. If you have only spent a little time with someone, it’s easy to be deceived by charm, personality, physical appearance. But when you spend enough time with someone, what they want you to see eventually gives way to the reality within, which can be good or bad. 

When Linda and I started dating, I knew about her. When we married, I was only beginning to know her. Fifty four years later, we KNOW each other, and it is better every day.

Spending time with Jesus is the only way to really know him. And the time you spend will inevitably change you. If you aren’t changed, you can’t really say you know him. That’s what John is saying here. He should know. He spent so much time with Jesus that he became “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”