WHAT/WHO DO WE KNOW?

I Was Just Thinking About – WHAT and WHO DO WE KNOW?

Investigative Committees often raise a question: “What do you know and when did you first know it?” It is intended as a probing question to ascertain if a person has knowledge of a person or event, or merely knows about an alleged event that occurred.

When we relate this to the Church, do people in the pews know about Jesus or do they really know Him from a personal and intimate relationship? This question arose with Jesus and His disciples. John 14:5-9 has this interesting exchange between Thomas, Philip and Jesus: “Lord, said Thomas, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now you do know Him and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us. Jesus replied, Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me?”

Did Thomas and Philip know about Jesus – His teaching and miracles? Yes! Did they discern who He was and His incarnate nature? No! The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in John 17 has an emphasis upon that which the disciples have begun to know and need to know more completely as they navigate the world's culture after the ascension of Jesus Christ.

What about the average Church attendee and professing Christian? Do they know Jesus personally or do they continue to merely know about Him? One thing is certain and that must be embraced – I John 5:13-15 – the knowledge the professing Christian must know: “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him."

Prayerfully – Consider these things with me.