I’m excited about the new series of “The Chosen“. Season four is coming out now in theaters. If you haven’t seen seasons one, two, or three, I encourage you to do so. They are excellent. To see the life of Jesus and his disciples portrayed on TV is dramatic and exciting as they interact with one another as they go about their daily lives.
It is amazing. It’s like being there with them. It causes the scriptures to come alive. One of my favorite scenes is the story of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda. You can watch it on YouTube. It is a great scene and very emotional. Sometimes we think if I could have been there with Jesus when he walked on the streets of Jerusalem. To be next to Him, to sit with Him around a home-cooked meal, to hear His heart as He taught the people. To be able to hug Him and cry with Him. To have an intimate conversation with Him.
To be a disciple during that time was something of great value, never to be taken lightly. A tremendous opportunity to walk with the King of Kings. To hear Jesus say, Come and follow me.” It was an invitation of a lifetime. Now here we are two thousand years later and we only know Jesus through the scriptures. We don’t know Jesus after the flesh as the early disciples did. He is currently seated on the throne of heaven next to His Father. Today we know Him by faith and that faith pleases God-( Hebrews 11:6, Romans 10:17 ).
Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 5:16 (NKJV) -16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. We think the disciples had an advantage over us knowing Jesus after the flesh. To be there and see the miracles, to see the different healings, and to hear His voice as he preached to the crowds. Can you imagine what it would have been like? It can make us feel like we are missing something. Are we at a disadvantage not being there at that time? Well, Apostle Paul stated that we no longer know Christ after the flesh. It doesn’t mean that we can’t know Him as they did. We can even know Him better. We see in Philippians that Paul’s heart was to know Christ-( Philippians 3:10 ). The Greek word for know is ginōskō. It means to understand and to recognize. It frequently indicates a relation between the person “knowing” and the object known; in this respect, what is “known” is of value or importance to the one who knows, and hence the establishment of the relationship. ( Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words.) It means more than accumulating information or knowledge. This knowing is progressive and continuous. It’s not just knowing about someone but being intimately acquainted with them. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for know is “Yada”. ( I know, I know already-Yada, Yada). It means to know, and observe. It’s knowledge gained through a relationship. Psalm 9:9-10 (NKJV) -9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
In John we read: 16:5-7 (AMP) –5 But now I am going to Him Who sent Me, yet none of you asks Me, Where are You going? 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [taken complete possession of them]. 7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. Jesus is speaking of His Ascension after His crucifixion. He would no longer be with them physically. That’s not good, right? What a disadvantage, right? But notice Jesus said, “It would be to their advantage.” It would be profitable for them! Notice that they were heartbroken. “Our master, teacher, friend, and Rabbi is leaving us.” Yet for Him to go away was important so that He could send the Holy Spirit to live in and abide in us. This was another of the same one. The Holy Spirit would be the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us through the New Birth. Jesus could only be in so many places physically. Now He can be in every believer at any time and anywhere. How great is that?
How do we know Jesus today? We know Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. We know Him through a relationship with Him through the Word of God. We know Him through the New Birth, to be Born Again. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (AMP) -17 But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. You can’t get any closer than that! Look at John 17:23 (NKJV) -3 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect (complete) in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Also in John 14:19-21 (NKJV) –19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” We may not see Jesus physically in our everyday life but we can see Him with our hearts. We can know Him intimately through serving Him, worshipping Him, and meditating on His Word. An unbeliever can know about a historical Jesus but only a believer can go beyond just knowing about Jesus. God calls us into fellowship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit and that brings transformation into our lives. Jeremiah 24:7 (NKJV)–7 Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. This knowing of Jesus is personal and it requires a hunger to know Him. Psalm 42:1-2 (NLT2)–1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? (face to face).
Linda and I pray that your hunger never diminishes or goes dry. That you would stir yourself up and revisit the Jesus of the Bible. He is with you always and will never forsake you. Through the New Birth, Jesus lives in you and you don’t have to go to Jerusalem to see Him. You don’t have to make an appointment either. Just come boldly to the throne of grace-(Hebrews 4:16 ). You are seated with Him in heavenly places- ( Ephesians 2:6 ). Of course you have to believe that, and you have to walk by faith and not your feelings. The Holy Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of God, that you are a son or daughter of God. That you are a joint heir with Christ- ( Romans 8:16, Romans 8:17 ),
Praying and talking to the Father and Jesus in prayer is another way to experience and know them in your life. To listen through the scriptures and when the Holy Spirit speaks to you in that still small voice. You know it is God speaking to you. To love you and encourage you! I believe we have an advantage over the early disciples when they walked with Jesus. There came a time when they as well as us, no longer know Jesus after the flesh but after the spirit. Knowing Jesus is loving Jesus in our worship and our service. We are destined to be conformed to His image, to be like Him- ( Romans 8:29 ). It is all about relationships and not just acquiring knowledge about Jesus! At times we get caught up studying the Bible, looking at commentaries, looking up Greek and Hebrew words, and forgetting the Jesus of the Bible. “He is the living Word made flesh and dwelt among us.“
What is eternal life? Is it just when we get to heaven? Is it something we can experience now? John 17:3 (AMP) -3 And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent. Yep, that’s right! Eternal life is not just when you get to heaven but knowing God the Father and Jesus now in the power of the Holy Spirit. What a privilege and a blessing to know Christ. Let us never take it for granted. One day we will see Him face to face!
In Christ’s love;
Brent and Linda
If this has blessed you in any way please let us know-Thank you and God bless!