Do you know Jesus?
"Do you know Jesus?" is perhaps one of the most asked questions by Christians today, but what exactly is meant by the question?
Does to "know Jesus" mean to casually know Him or to know Him very well? How does one get to know somebody, without taking the time to get to know someone?
So getting to know Jesus means taking the time to study and to learn about JESUS.
Matthew 11:25-30 (KJV)
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. [26] Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. [27] All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. [28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
What does it mean to know Jesus?
For many the common answer is “you need to have a personal relationship with Jesus" or "accept him into your heart and you will be saved.”
What does having "a personal relationship with Jesus" or "being saved" actually mean or involve?
Can one have a "personal relationship" with someone without getting know that person?
When Jesus walked the earth according to the Gospel accounts, was Jesus a smiling man or was He always a happy cheery person?
During His ministry, did JESUS accept all people He met?
Did He reject anyone or teach a doctrine of exclusion or inclusion?
What did Jesus say one had to do to be "right with God" or did He ever state such a thing?
Should we only be concerned with the character of Jesus; or should we also try to understand His origin, the "where," and "why" He exists, or "why He came" in the first place.
To know Jesus, one needs to have some kind of understanding of who JESUS was, or why He came about, why He lived and died, and what was His mission.
Did He come to come to save the entire world?
What exactly did Jesus teach and what did He do?
This article won't possibly be able to answer all of these questions, for each person has to truly discover and learn about Jesus on his or her own.
Since JESUS existed as visible to us largely in the past, the only way we can know JESUS is if you learn about His person through studying the Holy Text which explains all about JESUS.
The Holy Text, where we can learn about JESUS, is only found in the Holy Bible.
Now when you wish to know something, or wish to gain knowledge about a certain topic, what do you do?
Do you go to a close friend and ask him or her?
Supposing your friend has knowledge on the topic, do you take his or her word at face value or do you go back to a knowledgeable source and study the topic further for yourself?
Many people seem to "have no time" these days or they just don't care to want to sit down to take the time and research a topic or study something. They instead want the synopsis or "the five-minute" explanation.
Unfortunately, there is no five-minute explanation to get to know Jesus.
The only way we can begin to know Jesus, is if we read the Holy Bible. That is, the Greek New Testament and Hebrew Old Testament Holy text manuscripts which gives one the revelation of Jesus the Christ.
To know JESUS one must have FAITH
Before anyone can understand JESUS, one first needs to have some faith in the authorship of the HOLY Bible.
To begin, one must have some faith, for without faith the Holy Bible says:
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
God is a rewarder of those who seek HIM.
What is Faith?
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For many people, having faith in the Holy Bible is their first obstacle to overcome. Many would say (just as this author once said),
"Well, it's just a book, right?"
or
"How can a book be inspired?"
Ask yourself this question:
Do you not put your faith in things in this world that you have not seen or things you do not 100% surely know about or can fully explain?
Everyday people put their faith in things such as "science" or what the doctor might say, assuming that it is accurate. But the truth is, most of you have not really researched all the scientific data and you have not been able to take the same courses as the doctors, or sit in the laboratory to know that this drug even works or will even do what the doctor says.
You take or you accept the doctor's word, or scientific study, or his or her diagnosis on an amount of faith!
So, If you can have faith in earthly things, then why can't you not have faith in Godly things?
For the Holy Bible is very real (and GOD is very real), and the words in the Holy Bible are of the highest knowledge and wisdom you will ever read. History and archeology (even science) prove the Holy Bible's accuracy and continue to prove the Holy Bible with every new piece of evidence.
Again, our faith is not based on the seen things, but on the unseen things hoped for.
So first, we must have faith that the Word of GOD, the Holy Bible is exactly that— the inspired or "God breathed" Word of Holy Almighty God.
Please also understand that when you try "to know JESUS," you are essentially trying to know about GOD. The Holy Bible clearly proclaims that JESUS is GOD that "by Him all things were created."
Colossians 1:12-24 (KJV)
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: [13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: [15] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; [20] And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. [21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled: [22] In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: [23] If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; [24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
If the Holy Scripture says that In Him (The Son) were all things created, that are in heaven and in earth, then you are speaking about God who stated HE creates all things.
Here is a second witness.
Hebrews 1:1-14 (KJV)
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; [4] Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. [5] For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? [6] And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. [7] And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. [8] But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. [9] Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. [10] And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: [11] They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; [12] And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. [13] But to which of the angels said he at any times, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? [14] Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Understand that the Holy Bible is the Inspired Word of GOD. That means it is Special, Sanctified and Holy and God Breathed, every Word was put there for significance according to the Will of GOD.
2nd Timothy 3:14-17 (KJV)
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; [15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The Holy Bible states that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God.
The Holy Scriptures exist to make one "wise" (full of good wisdom) toward obtaining one's salvation.
One also needs to understand that Jesus was a man, and He was born in the flesh (a human) and He once lived and He died but being man and GOD, HE arose again into Glory and is now seated at the right of God in Heaven, and will come again to Judge the living the Dead.
JESUS Lives! —if you will open your mind (in faith) and accept that.
You've just been presented three things that fully require your active Faith showing a witness of Truth to the Holy Scriptures that stated without Faith it is impossible to please God.
Are you ready to get to know about Jesus?
Then proceed to the next page to learn about what the Holy Bible has to say about Jesus.