There’s a difference between truly knowing Jesus and merely knowing about Him. We need to make sure which of those characterizes us. Our readings are from the book, To Know Him. Here is a brief excerpt from pages 8 and 9:
Do we know this One, or do
we merely know about Him?
Since it’s true,
as we insist, that He existed – He
exists – and that He says, “Come unto Me,”
then knowing Him must be within our reach.
For thus the prophets and apostles teach,
and saints from every age have testified
of knowing Him. It cannot be denied,
therefore, that knowing Jesus is within
our human capability.
But then,
what does this mean? And what does it involve?
And Who is this, to know Whom men resolve
with all their soul and strength?
This is no doubt
the most important answer to find out
of all the answers we could ever learn.
Precisely Who is Jesus? This discern,
and you stand perched upon a precipice,
where your next step will yield eternal bliss,
or cast you to a darkness where the light
of truth becomes a never-ending night
of mere opinion, and your cherished thoughts
and hopes dissolve to little more than naughts
and dashed dreams. Thus, Who Jesus is, and what
it is to know Him truly, surely ought
to exercise the soul’s machinery day
and night, until rejoicing we can say,
“I know Him, Whom I have believed, and He
will keep me, that I may increasingly
be made like Him, washed by and carried on
wave after wave of grace!” So when they’re gone,
the days of our brief sojourn here, we’ll rise
into increasing light, beyond the skies,
beyond the grip of time, beyond all fear
and sorrow, to a place where neither tear
nor strife will know our new address.
For reflection or discussion
1. What’s the difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him? Which of these most characterizes your relationship with Jesus?
2. How can we keep our views of Jesus from being merely a contest of opinions?
Knowing Jesus and knowing about Him are not the same. Share today’s podcast with a friend and talk about this matter. Which is most true about you—knowing about Jesus or knowing Him? Order a copy of To Know Him from The Ailbe Bookstore and study the notes and comments that accompany our readings. Since you can truly know Him, why not press on for that prize?
