Know Love

“I am the good shepherd and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” John 10

Jesus uses the word “know” four times to describe the relationship that exists between Him and His Father, and between Him and those who are His own: His sheep.

This is more than just intellectual knowledge. This is an experiential knowledge that is rooted in the intimacy between the Father and the Son.

In fact, it is this mutual knowledge which makes certain that Jesus’ sheep follow their Shepherd, and only their Shepherd.

There is a difference between knowing about Jesus, and knowing Him. If we substitute a Jesus that we want for the Jesus who is, we can’t have this kind of knowing relationship.

Peter and Judas were both close to Jesus. The difference was that Peter knew Jesus, and Judas did not.

Peter loved Jesus because he knew Jesus.

Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”
(Matthew 16:16).

He knew Jesus.

To Judas, Jesus was a means to an end. For Peter, Jesus was the end.

Jesus asked “Peter, will you leave me too?” Peter responded “Lord, where else can I go?” (John 6:68).

This is true for all who love Jesus – what we love we want to know.

When it turned out that Jesus was not who Judas wanted, Judas’ ‘love’ turned to betrayal.

In Jesus’ universe, self is denied, flesh is crucified, ambition is subjected to His will, self-confidence is distrusted, suffering is endured, the cross carried, the greatest is the least, the poorest are rich, the first are last and the last first.

Judas spent three years with Jesus. He saw everything that Jesus did and heard everything that He said but, he didn’t KNOW Jesus, he didn’t follow Jesus, He didn’t love Jesus.

A wise man once said “We are always 100% full. If you want more Jesus, something else has to be subtracted.”

So, how much of Jesus do you want?

Who do you know?

Who do you follow?

Who do you love?

The Jesus of Peter or the Jesus of Judas?

The Jesus who is or the Jesus you want?

The Jesus who is THE end in Himself, the Jesus who says “follow Me” is worthy of everything that we are.

STOP

This is the month of love.

What’s it going to be? Love Jesus with everything, know Him with everything, follow Him with everything, or something else?

Take your time – this choice is the most important one you will make today.

You have been prayed for today.

Superbowl MVP Cooper Kupp “There aren’t goals or achievements or honors that I strive for. I want to be the best that I can possibly be for no other reason than God has put me here and I want to honor Him to the best of my ability.”