Do you know Jesus?
- Debbie Frederick
- Mar 28, 2020
- 3 min read
Do you know Jesus?
If someone had asked me that question 30 years ago, I would have answered “of course I know Jesus, he’s the one who died on the cross for my sins.” On the other hand, if they had asked me if I have a personal relationship with him, that would be a different story. I knew of Christ, but I didn’t know Christ. Yes, there is a difference.
To know of Christ is the same as knowing facts about a celebrity you have no relations with. Growing up, I knew the facts about Jesus: he was the son of Mary and Joseph, born in a stable, died on the cross, and rose on the third day. However, to know Christ not only entails knowing who He is and what he has done, but also choosing to follow and develop a relationship with him.
It is estimated that 81% of non-Christians in North America celebrate Christmas, which testifies to the holiday’s wide acceptance*. Such staggering facts make me question if these individuals have a relationship with Christ, or are they merely infatuated with baby Jesus and the holiday buzz. Additionally, around this Easter season, many remember the sorrow Christ went through as they visit the Stations of the cross. Don’t get me wrong, it is great to remember him through these events; however, remembrance should be coupled with a desire to follow Christ because we know, understand and appreciate His work on the cross. Remembrance should shape the way we live.
Luke 19, gives us an account of a tax collector named Zacchaeus. During Jesus’ time, tax collectors were reviled by the Jews because of their perceived greed and collaboration with the Roman occupiers. Zacchaeus was very rich, and it was said the reason he became rich, was due to stealing taxes from the people. On hearing that Jesus was passing through his town, he climbed a tree with the intent to see Jesus. Little did he know his life was about to change. As Jesus approached the spot where Zacchaeus was, he called Zacchaeus down from the tree, and subsequently invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home. Later on in the story, we read Zacchaeus’ words to Jesus in stating,“I will give half my wealth to the poor, and if I cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much.” Wow, talk about having a change of heart! What caused such swift transformation you may ask - it was Zaccheaus’ encounter with the Savior that brought such change. Once we encounter Christ, our lives would never be the same.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. What does this mean? It means we cannot claim to know Christ and continue in our old life of sin. To know Christ is to die to ourselves, our old habits and sinful lifestyle. We demonstrate knowing Jesus, by denying ourselves, picking up our crosses and following him. We cannot love our sin and our savior at the same time, we must sacrifice one in order to serve the other. Our old, fleshly desires will soon fade as we begin to enjoy our new life in Christ. If you once enjoyed gossiping, you will no longer have the desire to gossip; if you were an adulterer, you will choose to live faithfully as you pursue holiness. Knowing Jesus informs the way we live. If we claim to know Christ, yet still walk in sin, we lie and do not truly know him.
Although you may have known of Jesus, but didn’t know him personally, it’s not too late to start a relationship with him. Revelation 3:20 says, “Look, I [Christ] stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
If you want to start a relationship with Jesus Christ, I encourage you to say this prayer of repentance:
Heavenly Father,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of a savior, and believe that you sent your son, Jesus Christ into the world to forgive sinners and save them from eternal damnation. I repent of my sin, and put my faith in Jesus’ work on the cross as sufficient to forgive me of my sins. I choose to follow you, and thank you for your Holy Spirit that will teach me how to live uprightly.
Amen
A relationship with Jesus is truly a beautiful life; however, it will still have its hardships. Thankfully, in the midst of those sorrows, we have a Savior with us each step of the way. If you would like more information on how to get connected with a local church or start a discipleship process, feel free to email me at: atruthfuljourney@gmail.com
Thank you for sharing. And yes, there are many people who are growing up in church, but do not have a personal relationship with Christ.
Its only when I became a Christian i started to learn God. But it's easy to think you know him when you are religious or grew up in church. A relationship with God however makes you realize how much you didn't and don't know him and need to really need to.