Do we know who Jesus is?

On a Friday morning prayer, the preacher threw a challenge to the people “Who is Jesus to you?”. When I heard that question, something triggered in my heart. Even when Jesus was on this earth, His presence was a great debate for many. In Hebrews 1:1-4, we can read Gods supreme revelation of Jesus Christ. Let us analyse this through a passage from John 7:1-39.

In this passage, we see three groups of people.

• People who want to kill Jesus especially Jewish leaders. Even though they read scriptures of Torah, they did not have the heavenly wisdom to understand that Jesus is the Messiah mentioned by the prophets in those scriptures

• People in His own family. In v3 we see how brothers of Jesus mock Him. Even though they saw and experienced the miracles of Jesus, they were unable to comprehend them.

• Another group of people who is the mixture of Jews and Gentiles who saw all the miracles and heard all His teachings. Those people saw Him only as a healer, a deliverer from demons, a person who multiplies food etc. In v31 we read that many of the people believed in Him.

None of them is ready to accept Him or submit to Him. Are you in the above category of people? Do you know who really Jesus is? When we read v28-29 we can see the heart cry of Jesus when the Jewish people did not understand Him. So, He is asking the same question to us. Do we know who is Jesus for me and you?

As an illustration, let us read John 4:7-14. We have heard several sermons regarding this Samaritan woman who met Jesus near the well. As a custom, Jews would not even talk to Samaritan people. In this situation, Jesus being a Jew is talking to a Samaritan person who is a female and not living a moral life. However, as we all know Jesus as a good shepherd will reach out to the one lost soul. He also knew the potential of this woman through whom the whole town can be redeemed. So He took the initiative and waits for her to come to the well. When she came to the well, rather than talking directly into the subject, He steps down to her level and asks her for water. This is how we must also do when we are talking to someone who we are trying to reach out. Do not go and dump religion on them.

If Jesus can multiply bread; He Himself can get water for His thirst. But God had a plan for this woman and Jesus wanted to fulfil the plan. In v10 we read that Jesus introduces about Himself. The woman was puzzled and politely asks how can He draw water without a pail. Then she asks if He is greater than her ancestor Jacob…. We should note that this woman had the heart to know more about this man who is stating that He can give her the living water. She was not curious about the water; she was curious about the source which will give her water. She wanted to know about Jesus more and more. When Jesus saw the thirst of her heart, He revealed Himself to her. We read that in V13. “Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life”.

How much have we asked for the same living water from our Lord Jesus Christ? We know Jesus as a healer, one who gives us food, shelter, clothes, job, money, Visa etc. Do you know Him more than that? Do you want to know Him more than that?

My dear friends, our Lord, our Redeemer wanted us to know more about Him which is higher than this worldly pleasures and blessings. Our ancestors had this in their soul and mind. Even though they were poor and needy, they were still able to sing and follow Him because they know there is much more than these worldly things. They were focussing on eternal life and for that, they need only living water which is the Holy Spirit to help them.

The living water which Jesus promised is here for us. Five steps to get this living water is mentioned in John 7:37-39

• Step 1 – Have a thirst in you to know more about Him
• Step 2 – Once you have a thirst, you will have to believe in Him or trust in Him
• Step 3 – Once you have that faith or trust in Him, you will automatically go closer to Him.
• Step 4 – Once you drink from Him and You will be filed with the living water.
• Step 5 – Once full filled then it will start overflowing from you.

 

So the first and foremost step which is significant is having thirst in us to know Him. Once we have the thirst we cannot keep quiet, we will run to Him to get the drink. That’s what happened in Samaritan woman’s life. Once she knew that Jesus is the source of living water which is more than the water from the well, she filled herself and then ran to get the whole town to have that joy.

Do we want God’s will to be fulfilled in our lives or we just want to live a normal life and die?

Read John 7:17-18 “Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him”.

So dear child of God, He brought you so far in your life, He gave you everything you never ever can imagine in your life. So, have you ever asked God, “What is your purpose or desire or will of you Lord in my life?” Have you then asked, “what do you want me to do for you, Lord”? Why did you choose me, Lord? What is the purpose of my life in this world Lord? Let that be our prayer and submit ourselves to Him. Always remember, all the material and spiritual blessings we received are only because of God’s grace.

I remember an illustration I read from a missionary book. Imagine you being a slave captured by an enemy. You were stripped of your clothes, whipped, tortured and condemned to death. On that day, you were standing on a platform with hungry lions ready to devour you. When you were standing with great fear and agony, all of a sudden in a flash moment, a man comes from nowhere and rescues you. He lifts you up, smiles, whispers that you are in safe hands and says that you are free. What will be the first thought that will come to your mind? Will you have the desire to know your deliverer? When you walk about that horrible place and feel the cool fresh air, what will your question be?

It did not stop there, you were then taken to a house where your wounds were washed and treated. You were clothed in a beautiful dress and given a great feast. Day after day, week after week all your wants were supplied and now living the life of a noble person. Would you be content and forget about your deliverer or would you have a desire to know Him? What would be your answer? I would say, everyone who is redeemed by His precious blood, who are justified because of His death on the cross would have the answer of the Shulamite woman in Songs of Songs. “Tell me, men and women, any of you know him, tell me who he is. These love tokens increase my thirst and I must know Him more and more because I cannot live without Him. His goodness makes me thirst and I want to be with Him all my life. It is because Christ loved me and gave himself for me that I want to know him; it is because he has shed his blood for me and has chosen me that I may be one with him forever, that my soul desires a fuller acquaintance with him.”

When above prayer comes from our hearts, that’s when you understand who Jesus Christ is for us.

God Bless You!

– Julie Tanish