because of God's love

Knowing who Jesus Christ is
Day 15

by Gini Crawford, MSW

The Bible defines the true Jesus

It is very important that you know who the Jesus is that you are putting your faith (n) in or believing (v) in. This is because, to be saved from your sins you need to believe in the Jesus of the Old Testament and the New Testament – the Bible. Be aware, if you believe in an unbiblical Jesus, even if you are religious or have good intentions, it won't give you eternal life. The guy that put in our fence was named Jesus, and he certainly couldn't save me from anything even though he was a great carpenter.

If you get to know Jesus through the Bible, you will know the Jesus Who can save you from your sins (Matthew 1:20-23). Other books can explain the true Jesus rightly, but only if their understanding comes from the Bible. That is why I have used a lot of Bible passages in this daily devotional, so you may know the Jesus of the Bible and not some man-made idea of Him.

Do you believe in the Jesus of the Bible or a hypothetical Jesus? Know the Bible and you will know your loving Savior Jesus! (Titus 3:4-7).

The true Jesus is God

C. S. Lewis explained in his book Mere Christianity, "Jesus didn't leave it open for us to believe He is just a good man or a great moral teacher, because Jesus claimed to be God in the Gospels." I know some of you are struggling (probably right now) with Who Jesus is. Let me caution you not to try to fit Jesus into a feel good title such as a great moral teacher. You should either call Him God, because He claimed to be God, or you must think of Him as the wickedest liar in history or a narcissistic nut case, because He tells you to believe in Him for eternal life. (John 17:3).

Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works." John 14:9-10 ESV®

In John 8:24b Jesus said, "... unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins." Note that "I AM" is the One True God's proper name from Exodus 3:14. The reality is only God, who our sin is against, has the power, ability and prerogative to forgive and save us from our sin. Think about it, only the Creator of our existence could heal what our sins have done to us thereby ending our spiritual death and eternal punishment, and giving us the guarantee of eternal life - no created being can do that (Colossians 1:13-22). So what Jesus is saying is, if you reject that I am God, then you are rejecting My supernatural death that gives you forgiveness. (Isaiah 43:10-11).

If you don’t believe that Jesus is God, then you do not believe in the Jesus of the Bible. Do you believe in the Jesus of the Bible?

Knowing Jesus gives us life everlasting

The most important guarantee that happens from knowing the true Jesus is receiving the promise of eternal life.

Jesus said "...this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." / And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. John 17:3; 1 John 5:20 ESV®

Knowing Jesus takes us from being separated from God, to living in His loving embrace as His children now and throughout eternity (Ephesians 1:3-5). Knowing Jesus transforms us into His image as we live our life for Him (2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:13-16). The wonderful consummation of knowing Jesus will be life eternal with our loving God (Psalm 16:11; Ephesians 2:4-7; Jude 24-25).

A Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) missionary started a Good News Club in a country that wasn't friendly to Christianity. One hundred and ten children came to the first meeting and got to hear about Jesus. Many children went home after the first meeting talking about Jesus to their parents. A police officer arrived at the second meeting to close it down until he heard about Jesus from the kids. The knowledge of Jesus has amazing effects, doesn't it?

Life Application

Be blessed by knowing Jesus Christ

In Matthew chapter sixteen, Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do you say that I am"? Peter answers, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus responds by saying that Peter was blessed by knowing Who He is. You will be blessed too if you take the time to really know Who Jesus is.

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 16:13-17 ESV®

Peter one of Jesus' Apostles seems to be one of the first persons in the Gospels that truly understood that Jesus was the Christ - the long awaited Messiah. The name Christ is equivalent to the name Messiah or the Anointed One. The Messiah/Christ would fulfill the Old Testament promises of salvation and be more than human but God Himself. For some fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah/Christ from the Bible: Read Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 52:13 - 53:12, 61:1-3; Daniel 9:25-26; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:41-42, 4:25-26. Write down some insights about the Messiah/Christ from these passages.

Remember, God wants you to know Who Jesus is. Seek, ask and knock and Who Jesus is will be opened wide for you through the Bible (Matthew 7:7-11).

Reflect on John 17:3.

Table of Contents