JJ25 #39 – More About Jesus

The more you know about Jesus, the more you know that there’s so much more to know about Jesus.

You read about Him and discover many aspects of His earthly ministry, from fulfilling prophecy to presenting an approach to the Kingdom that folks would consider baffling until they see what God is doing through the gospel. That doesn’t make it easier to profess and explain, but it makes it more enriching to go into the depths of the matter.

Then you share with the saints what you’re discovering and it can impress and amaze some, where others are keen to join in and offer insights that adds insights to what you’ve got. That reinforces the sense in which the more you know is the more you know there’s a need to know more. And that can usher in an even greater sense of humility before God. IT’s about what we’re doing on the one-to-one, but it’s also what’s going on in the communal.

The knowing that’s taking place goes far beyond the ability to recite words or make scripture references. The knowing is not about appearing more spiritual than others and looking down on others who may not share the same appetite for the Word of God. What goes on in the knowing impacts us on all levels. It gets us to reflect on if our priorities are the same as Jesus’. It helps us see whether our daily activities align with what Christ would expect of us. It gets us to reframe and revise some of our prayers so that they are not the usual “bless me, bless me” types. They are captured by the Son who rules. They are mesmerised by the Son who serves, they are overwhelmed by the Son who sacrifices Himself to save, and they are in awe of the Son of God who is the source of all life. Then they explore each one of these four in more detail and trust God to direct them to make the necessary adjustments in their lives so that they prioritise what matters to Him.

The fascination in the knowing leads to worship that motivates more action of service. The desire for greater intimacy with Christ propels greater service to Him out of sheer awe and wonder at who this incredible Jesus is. It is such an amazing sight to see someone with great knowledge of the Word who is not lording it over anyone and showing off their superiority. They are rather more interested in setting things up so others can go through without the same aggravation they did.

Then to see Him through the adventures in the Old Testament. To have an even greater desire to know that He is the central focus of the activities of these men and women, able to go to the point of death in suffering and learning to trust God with the outcomes. The Spirit of God in us deepens that desire to carry on in the footsteps of the early church, but not look to replicate things as though God only works through those forms.

It always comes back to that issue of wanting to know more about Jesus.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom