Do We Know the Lord Jesus?
Reading: John 17 (Quotations from the REB)
In this chapter we have the amazing privilege of listening to the Lord Jesus praying. He prayed not only for the twelve disciples but for us, who believe ‘through their words’. He wants us to be ‘one … in us’ vs20-21. That doesn’t mean that we must all be the same, but that we should be united in him, in spite of our diversity. In order to be ‘one’ in that way we need to know him in the sense he spoke of at the beginning of this prayer: ‘This is eternal life: to know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent v3.’ So we learn that we will receive eternal life not by what we do but by knowing God, which we do through Jesus. But how can we know someone we have never met?
We can get to know facts about his life, what kind of things made him sad or happy.
We can read his words about himself and the words of others who knew him.
We can look at the reactions of those who met him.
The facts about him are well known: he was born miraculously, was baptised, preached about the Kingdom of God, healed the sick, taught the right way to behave, was crucified, died, was raised and taken into heaven. This shows that he is unique and powerful, but we need to explore more deeply to find out what kind of person he is; we need to find out why he did what he did. The first thing to notice is that he preached and healed because he loved and had compassion for people:-
‘The sight of the crowds moved him to pity: they were like sheep without a shepherd’ (Mt.9:36).
‘...his heart went out to them’ (Mt.14:14).
‘...filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched...’ (Mk.1:41) (NIV).
‘...his heart went out to her’ (Lk.7:13).
What made him sad? Twice we are told he wept; when he saw the suffering of Martha and Mary after Lazarus died (Jn.11:35) and when he foresaw the suffering of the people of Jerusalem after their rejection of himself (Lk.19:41).
What made him happy? He was
‘full of joy’ when the disciples came back with news about their preaching and healing mission, presumably because that was a foretaste of the Kingdom (Lk.10:21), and in Heb.12:2 we read that it was
‘for the sake of the joy that lay ahead of him’ that he was able to endure the suffering.Was he ever angry? One occasion is given: when the Pharisees obstinately tried to find a reason to accuse him (Mk.3:5), but even then it was
‘with anger and sorrow’. He also seemed to be angry when he drove the animals and money-changers out of the Temple, but it was indignation, not fury (Jn.2:14-15, Lk.19:45). He spoke severely against the Pharisees and scribes, calling them
‘Snakes! Viper’s brood’ (Mt.23:33), but ended by lamenting that they wouldn’t let him protect them (v.37).
These facts indicate a man who feels deeply the sufferings of others, but who does not tolerate wrong. He was patient with his disciples but didn’t hesitate to warn and reproach those who did wrong. Of himself he said, ‘I am gentle and humble-hearted’ (Mt.11:29), and he showed that humility when he washed the disciples’ feet, a task usually done by the most junior servant, teaching that we must serve one another in the same way.
He always acknowledged that he could ‘do nothing by himself’ but only what his Father tells him (Jn.5:19,30). He described himself as ‘the good shepherd …(who) … lays down his life for the sheep’ (Jn.10:11), ‘the door of the sheepfold’ keeping them safe (v.7), ‘the bread of life’ (Jn.6:35), ‘the true vine’ (15:1), and ‘the way, the truth and the life’ the only way to God (Jn.14:6). These qualities describe someone totally self-sacrificing, whose main concern is for others. He never lied, deceived, threatened, insulted, mocked or took offence; as Peter wrote, ‘He committed no sin, he was guilty of no falsehood. When he was abused he did not retaliate, when he suffered he uttered no threats …’ (1Pet.2:22-23).
You would think that a person like that would be universally loved and respected, but it wasn’t so. Although the people in general were amazed at him and followed him, when he said something they didn’t like many forsook him (Jn.6:66; 7;43; 10:20), and in the end the majority shouted ‘Crucify!’ Even his family reacted with embarrassment and unbelief (Mk.3:21, Jn.7:5). The reaction of the authorities, priests, scribes and Pharisees, was disapproval from the very beginning; they criticised everything he did and said, becoming ever more hostile until they finally killed him. For the most part those who did accept him were the ones the rulers described as sinners, second-class citizens: labourers, women, Gentiles, tax-collectors, prostitutes, the blind, Samaritans and the thief crucified beside him.
As we think about such contrasting reactions, do we feel we know him a bit better? He certainly comes across as a strong character, not at all intimidated by the opposition of the rulers, but at the same time he was the sort of person to whom parents had no hesitation in bringing their children. In the face of the lack of comprehension, fear and even quarrels of his disciples he was always patient, so that they remained faithful to him in spite of everything. Towards his enemies he always behaved with complete self-control; knowing everything about them he was in control of every situation.
Perhaps it will help if we think of some particular incidents, using our imaginations to come a little closer to him. We naturally feel more affinity with those who believed in him, so think of this: what would a person be like to cause parents to bring their babies to him for him to ‘lay his hands on them with prayer’? (Mt.19:13) These were not sick children; something about the Lord Jesus made these parents want to do that. Have those of us who are parents ever done such a thing? We may not be able to put into words exactly what that tells us about him, but we can feel something. Another helpful example might be the centurion (Mt.8:5). This Roman soldier showed more faith than any Jew - even Jesus was astonished; what was it about Jesus that made this man absolutely certain that here was a person with authority from God? Again it’s hard to put into words; it’s something sensed more by instinct. At the very least, we can feel that here is someone whom we can trust absolutely; he will never let us down.
But however well we might think we know him it can only be ‘partial’ in our present life; only ‘when wholeness comes’ will we truly ‘know’ (1Cor.13:9,10,12). Until then we must ‘grow in … the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour …’ (2 Pet. 3:18). If John’s first letter is a commentary on his gospel, he gives an answer to our question: ‘It is by keeping God’s commands that we can be sure we know him.’ (1 Jn.2:3-6). So no-one can claim complete knowledge of him, but those who want to be ‘in him’ can try by loving one another. The more we become like him, the more we will feel the needs and sufferings of others, and will consider them more important than our own desires. If we acknowledge him now in that way, when he comes we will be able to look at him at last with joy and love.
Sis Jean Field (Kendal,UK)
