Do You Know Jesus

Do you Know Facts or the Real Thing?

I have a question for you guys…

Is there someone that you have ever been obsessed with? Maybe a musician or an actor/actress?

I feel like its kinda a thing that there are boy bands and then all the teenage girls love them and are head over heels for them. They read magazines talking about their real lives, listen to podcasts where they share stories, see posts on social media. And after a few years, you feel like you really know this person.

But in reality, you just know about them… facts, stories, pictures.

Would they really be the same if you were to meet them face to face? Or is that just the persona they put on for the public to see.

Perhaps they are true to who they reveal on camera… but all of a sudden, facts that you memorized are jumping off those magazine pages and becoming reality. And you are a little taken back by it. You know about their blue eyes and curly brown hair…but now you are seeing it with your own two eyes. Facts are becoming reality right before you..and that is an incredible experience.

While I was thinking about my own life, I was trying to think about times that perhaps I had an interaction like this… and well, I’ll just say that I never fell in love with a boy-band and then went crazy to get up in person to meet them. haha.

But an example that did come to mind has to do with the bible.

I grew up reading and hearing the stories of the old testament.. you know, David and Goliath, Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Joshua and the walls of Jericho… or even new testament stories like Jesus performing miracles or giving messages to the people.

And a few years ago, I got the privilege of going to Israel and touring the country to study the Bible. It was about a 2 week trip and it was absolutely incredible!

Now, all of those kid movies I saw and the imagination my mind created of what Israel looked like were being put into perspective. I knew all these facts about it, but all of a sudden those facts mentioned in the bible were jumping off the pages and becoming reality in my life.

I was experiencing Israel! I was putting locations to the Bible stories I knew and everything was gaining so much more appreciation and value.

And I tell you this because I want us to talk about one spot in particular that had this affect on me. It was a place called Caesarea Philippi. I have probably read the name of that place about a hundred times and never knew what significance it carried.

Caesarea Philippi was an area know for its idol worship. If you were devoted to God, this was likely an area that you would have avoided.

There was a big rock face, and at the base was a large mouth to an underground cave. The people actually called it the gateway to hell. It was believed that false gods of fertility would live down there during times of the year. And Herod built a temple to Caesar there on top of the entrance to the cave. All around it were smaller temples and shrines for various false gods, especially the greek god named Pan (had to do with shepherds, hunters, and nature; was a mixture of a man and a goat).

And we got to see this place. It was at the base of a cliff/mountain with a river flowing nearby. And there were basically stalls each with remains of a shrine built to a different god. It was crazy to see! And here, the people could come and do a type of “idol shopping”.

“Mhhh, who do I feel like worshipping today? Let me look through the market and take my pick…”

Thats kinda the picture we are getting.

And of all places, this is where Jesus comes to ask a very important question. Join me in Matthew 16:13-18

Matthew 16:13–18 NASB95

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

So interesting when you add context to this passage. Jesus is in the district of Caesarea Philippi where it was know for idol worship and various false gods and detestable worship. Yet it is here that Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say that I am…and an even more relevant question: Who do YOU say that I am”.

I don’t know if Jesus was standing amidst this marketplace of idolatry, but I can just picture it in my mind. In light of all these other false gods…who does that make me? Who do you see me as?

Peter…perhaps the most relatable disciple speaks up and this is his shining moment. He has messed up quiet a few times and will continue to do so, but he answers very well here. He tells Jesus that He is the Messiah…the Savior…the Son of God.

And Jesus says something interesting here… Peter did not discover this simply because he got to see Jesus face to face.

Someone else didn’t convince him of this, but rather God revealed it to Peter.

Hopefully you are starting to make some of the connections that I mentioned before. It is one thing to know facts about someone… to study up about them. To memorize their features and their life stories…their songs or their scenes from movies. You can know everything and yet nothing. Listen to something else Jesus has to say:

Matthew 7:21–23 NASB95

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

It is entirely possible for someone to call themself His follower, to even go out and do impressive things in His Name…yet not know Christ or be known by Him!

How is this possible? Seems a little scary right? That you can know all the right answers, memorize scripture, even go to church on Sundays and Youth group on Saturdays and yet be denied entrance into God’s Kingdom…because you did not know Him and He did not know you.

Well you may ask surely God knows who I am! He knows everything!

Yes this is true! He knows everything about you. But this is the point I am making…there is a difference to know about someone, and to know them personally.

It is the difference between having an intellectual knowledge and a knowledge based on experience and relationship.

So the better question to ask is: How do I KNOW Jesus? Not about Him. But KNOW Him based on relationship. Your eternal life may depend on this very question.

Just earlier we played a game where we saw how well you know your partner.

Maybe we each ought to look into the mirror and ask ourselves the same question: DO I KNOW JESUS? If so, Can I know Him More?

For some of you in here, you may not know a relationship with Christ yet.

SO what does it mean? How do I really KNOW Christ? Not just know about Him with facts…

Well, It starts with a relationship.

John 17:3 says:

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent”

I really don’t like that Christianity is viewed as a religion…I understand why it is, but it really isn’t about religion. I don’t want to be a religious person. I want to follow Christ. I want to have a relationship with Him…This is what Christianity is about.

The bible says that I enter into relationship with Christ when I call upon Him for forgiveness, and surrender my life to Him.

This begins with understanding that there is a very real thing called sin! I don’t think I have to do much to convince you of a concept such as this. We all do it daily. We lie, steal, cheat, disobey, etc. We know that it is wrong too…Sin in reality is doing anything in disobedience to God and His character.

So the first step is realizing that just one sin would make me a…sinner. And God is a just God! He cannot overlook sin and let it go unpunished. To do so would deny Himself as God. For Justice is an attribute of being God.

Just one sin separates me from relationship with Christ.

So how do I remove this sin? Well, Its impossible for us!

We try to do good works. We come to church, we are nice to other people…all while hoping that our good outweighs our bad. But thats never enough.

Cause just one sin against an infinitely Holy God is deserving of an infinite punishment… that is separation from Him in a very real place called hell.

So are we hopeless? Thank God we aren’t! We can’t do anything, but He could.

Something perfect and blameless would have to take our punishment for us. Something would have to die in our place if we want our sin to be atoned for and forgiven.

Thats where Jesus comes in!

Jesus was that perfect sacrifice. He died on the cross so that you and I can have forgiveness from God. He takes God’s wrath and you receive the gift of eternal life!

But what do you have to do to make a gift yours? You have to receive it…to open it!

But Jesus tells us something else as well:

You must count the cost of becoming a follower of Jesus! It isn’t a flippant half thought through decision. A get out of jail free card!

No! Jesus told his followers, if you want to be my disciple, you must be willing to give up everything to follow me. In essence, you must lose your life as you know it. Because now you are surrendering your life to Jesus. Its not about what you want anymore, its about doing what pleases God.

When a person counts the cost and says, YES! It is worth it for me to give up what Nate wants in order to do what pleases God!

THEN! Then only, can begin this relationship with Christ. And no, you won’t all of a sudden be perfect. No, you will not immediately know everything about living for Jesus instead of yourself. This is a process that all Christians are in! That’s why Christians aren’t perfect people! They are growing and trying to be more obedient to God and His Word.

SO, calling out to Jesus for forgiveness and surrendering your life to Him is how you enter relationship with Christ.

This is the beginning of knowing Jesus.

From this point on, you begin to read the bible, you begin to pray, to go to church and are encouraged by other believers, and in the midst of this process, you find yourself growing closer and closer to Christ.

And I can tell you, it is so SWEET when you are in fellowship with Christ. To have His peace, His love, His grace in your life. It is the most wonderful thing in life to experience!

So for many of you tonight, I would assume that you may be in this stage. You have given your life to Christ and know about this peace and love that I just mentioned.

Well to you, I want to challenge you to go deeper! Deepen your faith! Know Him more and more! He is the most precious thing in your life. As you get older and spend time with Him, I can tell you that this is true. He is a companion and Father who never disappoints and always is with you!

I have a verse that I want to share with you. And it comes with a warning! It is a great prayer to pray! But also a dangerous one to pray! Let me share it with you:

Luke 17:5 ESV

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

Before praying something like this, really consider what you are praying. To know God more and grow your faith, you are inviting God to allow trials and different things that may be really tough. But should you trust God through them, you will learn more about His faithfulness, more about His promises, more about his goodness in your life! Don’t be surprised when hard things come after asking God to increase your faith in Him. He is merely answering your prayer.

Along with this, I would encourage you to desire Him more, commit yourself to scripture memory and frequent and serious prayer.

We all have things that keep us busy. Every stage of life, there are always things that can be done before sitting down to spend time with Jesus. But the truth is, we make time for what we prioritize, so if you aren’t spending time daily growing that relationship with Christ, you are effectively displaying that there are more important things than Him in your life.

So overall, the question I want you to walk away with today is this:

DO YOU KNOW JESUS? Not about Him, but do you KNOW Him?

How can you commit to knowing Him more and more?

Prayer:

Mention 1 John 2:3

“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments”