"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3)
Eternal life is knowing God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Considering the eternal importance and consequence of knowing (or not knowing) Them, it's a good idea to ask ourselves how well we do know Them.
As a guide to examining our own hearts along this line, we can look at six groups of people discussed in Scripture.
#1- The "Feed Me" Followers
These people are not really true followers of Jesus but are those who are curious and "wowed" by the miracles He does. We see this in John 6 after Jesus fed the five thousand and the crowd caught up with Him across the lake the next day.
They asked Him, "Rabbi, when did You get here?"
He answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled."
In other words, the signs didn't prove to them that He was the Christ, it only caused them to think of Him as what I call a "bread factory." Someone who will keep feeding them, providing for them so they can continue to live their lives as they want. They weren't interested in what He had to say. They weren't interested in living a godly life. To these ones, it's not about Jesus being their Lord or the Christ. It's not about what they can do to love and serve God. It's about what He can do for them to help them continue living the kind of life they always have. They don't question things like eternal life or truth or knowing God. They hope to be on the receiving end of those miracles if they are really real, but not to honor the Lord for who He is or even know Him for who He is.
#2- The "Distant" Disciples
Some of the Followers, however, would listen more closely to what Jesus said. Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables hoping to spark an interest in them about what He was saying. If any of them would begin to ask, "What does He mean?" That would be an indication that they were seeking understanding. And understanding, according to His parable of the sower, is what causes the Word to grow in a person's heart (Matthew 13:19, 23).
When one seeks understanding of the Word of God and pursues that by listening to the Word more intently, drawing closer to Jesus in the process, and coming to know Him better as a result, then they may indeed become a disciple.
A disciple of Jesus is a student of the Word of God. In John 8:31-32 Jesus said, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." These disciples, with hearts like the seed sown on rocky ground, receive the Word with joy and spring up, confessing Jesus as Lord (Matthew 13:20-21, Romans 10:9-10). They begin to know Jesus.
However, one can't stay a "distant" disciple of Jesus. For once He starts walking, they will be left behind if they are not willing to leave their life behind to follow Him. Like the seed sown in rocky places, when the heat is on, when some sacrifice is required, they hesitate, and do not stay close to Jesus. The soil of their heart does not allow room for the Word of God to grow in them. They stumble over what they see as the "harder" things the Lord requires of them.
#3- The "Twelve"
The twelve represent those disciples who do leave all to follow Him. They catch the attention of Jesus and are called to come even closer to Him. These are the Luke 14:27 disciples who understand when Jesus said, "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." Where the Distant Disciples tripped over this Word, those who would be close to Him are willing to give all to follow Him--to be near Him and to know Him. They come to know Him better than the "crowd." They understand the concept of the Narrow Gate (Matthew 7:13-14).
#4- The Religious Opposers
This is the most dangerous group to fall into. These are those who have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). They look like nice people. They seem to be trying to live for God and please Him. The Feed Me Followers and Distant Disciples may easily slip into this group, determining its better than falling into blatant sin. This seems safer, and less costly, than following Jesus. But this is a wrong assumption, as Jesus said, "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25).
However, the religious opposers don't just ignore Jesus. They don't just dismiss Him as someone they don't agree with or believe in. They actively oppose Him. In fact, they killed Him. And this religious spirit that drives them is partner with an antichrist spirit. So, eventually they will not just oppose Jesus, they want to replace Him. They want to steal the glory that belongs to Jesus, the Christ, for themselves.
Jesus said to them, "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?" (John 5:44). John said that they "loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God." (John 12:43).
Jesus warned against those who would come in His name and say He is the Christ yet deceive many (Matthew 24:4-5). He said there would be many false Christs and false prophets, who would mislead many (Matthew 24:11, 23-26). Jesus warned that not everyone who calls Him "Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will of the Father will. One day, there will be those who question Him--"Did we not prophesy in your name...?" But He will say, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus asked, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46).
In Matthew 10:32-33 we read where Jesus said whoever confesses Him before men, He will also confess before His Father in heaven. One day, Jesus will recognize those of you who do His will, you who have His Word in you, who have not just confessed Him as Lord, but have truly made Him Lord and have done what He says. He will tell the Father--I recognize that one. I see My Word in them. I know them. They are close to Me. Stay close to Jesus and far from the religious opposers!
#5- The Three
This group of three disciples are three of the twelve who became even closer to Jesus than the others--Peter, James, and John. These three He took with Him when He raised Jairus' daughter from the dead (Luke 8:51). These three were with Him on the Mount when He was transfigured and they saw Him in glory speaking with Moses and Elijah (Luke 9:28). These three came farther with Him into the garden where He prayed just before He was arrested and crucified (Mark 14:33).
Jesus warned against those who would come in His name and say He is the Christ yet deceive many (Matthew 24:4-5). He said there would be many false Christs and false prophets, who would mislead many (Matthew 24:11, 23-26). Jesus warned that not everyone who calls Him "Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will of the Father will. One day, there will be those who question Him--"Did we not prophesy in your name...?" But He will say, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus asked, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46).
In Matthew 10:32-33 we read where Jesus said whoever confesses Him before men, He will also confess before His Father in heaven. One day, Jesus will recognize those of you who do His will, you who have His Word in you, who have not just confessed Him as Lord, but have truly made Him Lord and have done what He says. He will tell the Father--I recognize that one. I see My Word in them. I know them. They are close to Me. Stay close to Jesus and far from the religious opposers!
#5- The Three
This group of three disciples are three of the twelve who became even closer to Jesus than the others--Peter, James, and John. These three He took with Him when He raised Jairus' daughter from the dead (Luke 8:51). These three were with Him on the Mount when He was transfigured and they saw Him in glory speaking with Moses and Elijah (Luke 9:28). These three came farther with Him into the garden where He prayed just before He was arrested and crucified (Mark 14:33).
The Three received more personal training and impartation than the others. When you think you are close enough to Jesus, because you have already "sacrificed" so much for Him, to be with Him and know Him, there is always a deeper intimacy waiting for you in Him. He stands at the door and knocks, if anyone hears His voice and opens the door, He will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Him (Revelation 3:20).
#6- The One
Out of the group of three, John was the closest to Jesus. John was the one who leaned on His chest while reclining at the table (John 13:23). He is the one called, "The disciple whom Jesus loved," (John 13:23, John 19:26, John 21:7, John 21:24). He is the one who went all the way into the court with Jesus when He was arrested (John 18:15). He was the one who was at the foot of the cross with Jesus' mother when Jesus gave the care of His mother over to him (John 19:26-27).
#6- The One
Out of the group of three, John was the closest to Jesus. John was the one who leaned on His chest while reclining at the table (John 13:23). He is the one called, "The disciple whom Jesus loved," (John 13:23, John 19:26, John 21:7, John 21:24). He is the one who went all the way into the court with Jesus when He was arrested (John 18:15). He was the one who was at the foot of the cross with Jesus' mother when Jesus gave the care of His mother over to him (John 19:26-27).
John called himself, "The disciple whom Jesus loved." He became close enough to Jesus to identify himself in relation to Jesus' love for him, rather than by his own achievements or opinions, or even by his own name. When our entire identity is based on our relationship to Jesus, when we lose ourselves in Him, then we have found ourselves, and we have come to know Him. We have become one with Him and the Father and He knows us.
John was close enough to hear Jesus' heartbeat, to know His intentions. He didn't loudly claim he would follow Jesus until death, but he quietly followed Him all the way. He earned the trust of Jesus, who chose him to care for His own mother, even over His brothers.
Get Closer
Examine your heart. Identify where you are in regard to knowing Jesus. And if you find yourself slipping away at all, stumbling over a word of Jesus that seems to be hard to obey--hard to put into practice--then press in closer. Ask for the Helper's help--the Holy Spirit. Ask for a purging and cleansing of your soul from all that opposes God. Let Him be seated on the throne of your life. So when you confess Jesus as Lord, whether in private or in public, your lifestyle and heart's attitude confirms that He truly is your Lord.
Jesus said in John 14:23:
"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."
In response to His love for you (1 John 4:19), love Him in return, and you will keep His word. Guard His word. Treasure it. Hold it close. It is your life. Treasure it and keep it until you know the Father's love for you, and you will experience the abiding, indwelling presence of both God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Read part two: Knowing Jesus: The Word Made Flesh
You might also be interested in my booklet, "21 Days to Die; What it means to take up your cross and follow Jesus, and live a resurrected life in Christ." Download it for free here.