In our faith journey, we often face profound questions that challenge our understanding of God and our relationship with Him. One such question echoes through time, as relevant today as it was when first asked: “Who do you say that I am?”
This simple yet profound inquiry invites us to reflect deeply on our knowledge and experience of Jesus Christ. It’s not merely about reciting theological truths or doctrinal statements but examining our relationship with the Savior. Do we truly know Him? And if so, how does that knowledge shape our lives?
The Messiah: Anointed by God
When we look at Jesus, do we see Him as the Messiah, the Anointed One sent by God? This recognition goes beyond mere intellectual assent. It’s about understanding that God empowers Jesus to be active in our lives every day. He’s not a distant figure confined to history books or reserved for the afterlife. Instead, He’s Emmanuel – God with us – present in our joys, sorrows, triumphs, and struggles.
Knowing Jesus as the Messiah means recognizing His power to enter our current situations. It’s about hearing His voice saying, “Peace, be still” in the midst of our storms. It’s about turning to Him as our healer when we’re on our sickbeds. This knowledge transforms how we worship and how we walk in faith.
The Redeemer: Offering New Life
Do we know Jesus as our Redeemer? The One who, though sinless, died for our sins? This aspect of Christ’s identity speaks to His unfathomable love and the extent of His sacrifice. He went to the cross so that we might be saved, accepting us just as we are, no matter how stained by sin we may feel.
Knowing Jesus as the Redeemer means understanding that redemption is an ongoing daily journey. It’s about grasping the depth of His forgiveness – not just seven times, but seventy times seven. It’s about realizing that every day offers a fresh start, a new opportunity to turn to Him and be forgiven.
This knowledge gives us hope. Even when we feel unworthy or trapped by our past, we can look to Jesus and know He can make us “white as snow,” regardless of how “crimson” our sins may be. In our darkest moments, He is the light that keeps shining, growing brighter and brighter.
Walking the Way of the Cross
Knowing Jesus in these ways isn’t just about receiving blessings or comfort. It comes with a call to “pick up our cross” and follow Him. This means embracing a lifestyle of self-denial and sacrifice, of putting others before ourselves, just as Jesus did.
Walking the way of the cross can be challenging. It means facing trials and persecutions and dealing with confusion and doubt. But it also means experiencing a deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing we’re following in the footsteps of our Savior. It’s about having the strength to say, “Though they try to slay me, in this will I have truth, that God will redeem me.”
This path requires us to give up certain pleasures or comforts. But in doing so, we gain something far more significant—a closer relationship with Jesus, a deeper understanding of His love, and the assurance of His constant presence.
Knowing Him Better Each Day
The beautiful thing about our relationship with Jesus is that it’s not static. We can continually grow in our knowledge and understanding of Him. Just as the psalmist said, “I will look to the hills from which comes my help, my help comes from the Lord,” we too can look to Jesus each day, seeking to know Him better.
This growing knowledge transforms us. It gives us strength in our weakness, grace that covers our sins, and hope that sustains us through life’s challenges. Like the song lyric, it enables us to say, “I thought I knew you yesterday…but now I know you in a better way.”
In a world full of confusion, where many are “losing their minds,” knowing Jesus provides an anchor for our souls. It gives us a different perspective, allowing us to look beyond our temporary troubles to our eternal hope in Christ.
A Call to Deeper Knowledge
So, how do we grow in our knowledge of Jesus? It starts with spending time in His Word, allowing the Scriptures to reveal His character and ways to us. It involves prayer – not just talking to God, but listening for His voice and being open to His guidance.
It also means living out our faith in practical ways. As we serve others, show love to our neighbors, and strive to live Christ-like lives, we come to know Jesus more intimately. We begin to see the world through His eyes and love with His heart.
Ultimately, knowing Jesus transforms us from the inside out. It fills us with love for others, allowing us to call each other brothers and sisters in Christ. It gives us a joy that goes beyond our circumstances, rooted in our hope in Him.
As we seek to know Jesus better, we open ourselves to His work in our lives. We allow Him to heal, provide for, and deliver us from our troubles. We understand Him as our way maker, the one who can make a way where there seems to be no way.
In conclusion, let us continually ask ourselves, “Who do I say Jesus is?” Let’s not be content with surface-level knowledge but strive to know Him more deeply each day. For in genuinely knowing Him, we find life in all its fullness. We see an anchor for our souls, a light in our darkness, and a hope that never fails.
May we all come to know Jesus in new and exciting ways, allowing that knowledge to birth new ministries and ways of living that all us to reflect His love to the world around us. When we truly know Him, our souls are anchored, and we can face whatever comes our way with the assurance that He is always with us, even to the end of the age.