Do You Know Jesus, or Do You Just Know About Him?
Do You Know Jesus, or Do You Just Know About Him?
There's a profound difference between knowing about someone and truly knowing them. You might know facts about a celebrity—their movies, their music, their accomplishments—but that doesn't mean you have a relationship with them. When it comes to Jesus Christ, this distinction becomes eternally significant.
The Question That Changes Everything
In Matthew 16:13-16, Jesus poses a penetrating question to His disciples: "Who do men say that I am?" The answers varied—some thought He was John the Baptist, others believed He was Elijah or Jeremiah returned. But then Jesus made it personal: "But whom say ye that I am?"
Peter's response cuts through all the speculation: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
This wasn't textbook theology. This wasn't secondhand information. This was personal conviction born from genuine relationship.
Today, if you ask people who Jesus is, you'll hear all sorts of answers. "A good man." "A wise teacher." "A prophet." "A moral example." Some might even acknowledge Him as the Son of God. But here's the haunting reality: knowing about Jesus isn't enough. The critical question isn't just whether you know Him—it's whether He knows you.
The Sobering Warning
Jesus Himself warned about this in Matthew 7:22-23: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Imagine standing before Christ, confident in your religious activities, only to hear those devastating words: "I never knew you." Not "I used to know you" or "I forgot about you," but "I never knew you."
This should cause each of us to examine ourselves. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves."
A Life Transformed: The Story of Mary Magdalene
To understand what it means to truly know Jesus, consider Mary Magdalene. When she encountered Christ, she was possessed by seven demons—helpless, hopeless, and bound by spiritual darkness. But Jesus, in His mercy and grace, delivered her completely.
Mary's transformation wasn't just about what was taken away; it was about what was given. Jesus didn't just cast out her demons and send her on her way. He gave her peace, joy, hope, fulfillment, and purpose. He gave her a new life worth living.
On resurrection morning, Mary arrived at the tomb before dawn, carrying spices to anoint Jesus' body. She wasn't expecting to meet a living Savior—she was looking for a corpse. But everything changed when she heard Him speak her name: "Mary."
In that moment, she recognized the risen Christ, and her entire understanding of reality shifted forever.
Three Ways We're Changed When We Know Jesus
1. Changed by His Mercy
Mary Magdalene couldn't help herself. She was completely powerless against the demons that tormented her. She deserved nothing but condemnation. Sound familiar? That's the condition of every human being.
Romans 3:23 declares, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We've all fallen short of God's absolute righteous perfection. There's nothing good in us by nature. We can't work hard enough, be good enough, or earn our way to salvation.
Mercy means God doesn't give us the punishment we deserve. When we were helpless sinners, condemned to death and hell, Jesus intervened. That's mercy.
2. Changed by His Grace
Grace goes beyond mercy. Grace is receiving what we could never deserve. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Jesus didn't just deliver Mary from her demons—He gave her a completely new life. He offers us the same. When you accept Christ, He doesn't just rescue you from hell; He gives you peace, joy, hope, and purpose. He makes you a new creation.
As 2 Corinthians 5:17 promises, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
3. Changed by His Love
Why would Jesus take time for a demon-possessed woman? Why would He die for sinners like us? The answer is simple yet profound: love.
John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
God's love motivated everything. He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins—past, present, and future.
Evidence of Transformation
When you truly know Jesus, your life will show it. Your priorities get rearranged. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you the moment you're saved, serving as your guarantee, your earnest deposit on eternity.
Mary became the last person at the cross and the first person at the tomb. Her devotion was evidence of her transformation. She had a burning desire to be in the presence of her Savior.
Do you have that same desire? Do you pray regularly? Do you study God's Word? Do you serve the Lord? Do you witness for Him? Do you worship with other believers?
These aren't requirements for salvation—they're the natural overflow of a transformed life. When Christ changes you, your desires change. The Holy Spirit guides you toward what is right and convicts you when you stray.
A Future Prearranged
Mary went to the tomb expecting to find a dead body. Instead, she encountered the risen Lord. The angel's message to her is still true today: "He is not here; He is risen!"
Because of Jesus' victory over death, everyone who knows Him has a prearranged future. You can plan your funeral down to the last detail, but if you know Jesus, your eternity has already been prepared.
Jesus promised in John 14:3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
In that place, there will be no more death, sorrow, pain, or crying. No more sin. Only God's perfection for all eternity.
The Gospel: Simple Yet Profound
The gospel is beautifully simple: Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). That's the good news.
When the Philippian jailer asked Paul, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul's answer was direct: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:30-31).
Not "believe and work." Not "believe and prove yourself." Just believe.
Salvation is a gift from God, received by faith alone. Jesus did all the work on the cross. Your debt has been paid in full. All He asks is that you accept His finished work by faith.
No matter where you've been or what you've done, your sin is not too great for the blood of Jesus to cover. He can save anyone who comes to Him in faith.
Today Is the Day
So here's the question you must answer: Do you know Jesus, or do you just know about Him?
Knowing facts about Christianity won't save you. Church attendance won't save you. Good works won't save you. Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through faith in His finished work on the cross can save you.
Today is the day of salvation. Don't assume you have tomorrow. As long as your heart is beating and you're breathing, Jesus is available. But why wait?
If a woman possessed by seven demons could be transformed, if the thief on the cross could be saved in his final moments, if the chief of sinners could be redeemed, then Jesus can save you too.
The invitation stands. Will you accept it?
There's a profound difference between knowing about someone and truly knowing them. You might know facts about a celebrity—their movies, their music, their accomplishments—but that doesn't mean you have a relationship with them. When it comes to Jesus Christ, this distinction becomes eternally significant.
The Question That Changes Everything
In Matthew 16:13-16, Jesus poses a penetrating question to His disciples: "Who do men say that I am?" The answers varied—some thought He was John the Baptist, others believed He was Elijah or Jeremiah returned. But then Jesus made it personal: "But whom say ye that I am?"
Peter's response cuts through all the speculation: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
This wasn't textbook theology. This wasn't secondhand information. This was personal conviction born from genuine relationship.
Today, if you ask people who Jesus is, you'll hear all sorts of answers. "A good man." "A wise teacher." "A prophet." "A moral example." Some might even acknowledge Him as the Son of God. But here's the haunting reality: knowing about Jesus isn't enough. The critical question isn't just whether you know Him—it's whether He knows you.
The Sobering Warning
Jesus Himself warned about this in Matthew 7:22-23: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Imagine standing before Christ, confident in your religious activities, only to hear those devastating words: "I never knew you." Not "I used to know you" or "I forgot about you," but "I never knew you."
This should cause each of us to examine ourselves. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves."
A Life Transformed: The Story of Mary Magdalene
To understand what it means to truly know Jesus, consider Mary Magdalene. When she encountered Christ, she was possessed by seven demons—helpless, hopeless, and bound by spiritual darkness. But Jesus, in His mercy and grace, delivered her completely.
Mary's transformation wasn't just about what was taken away; it was about what was given. Jesus didn't just cast out her demons and send her on her way. He gave her peace, joy, hope, fulfillment, and purpose. He gave her a new life worth living.
On resurrection morning, Mary arrived at the tomb before dawn, carrying spices to anoint Jesus' body. She wasn't expecting to meet a living Savior—she was looking for a corpse. But everything changed when she heard Him speak her name: "Mary."
In that moment, she recognized the risen Christ, and her entire understanding of reality shifted forever.
Three Ways We're Changed When We Know Jesus
1. Changed by His Mercy
Mary Magdalene couldn't help herself. She was completely powerless against the demons that tormented her. She deserved nothing but condemnation. Sound familiar? That's the condition of every human being.
Romans 3:23 declares, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We've all fallen short of God's absolute righteous perfection. There's nothing good in us by nature. We can't work hard enough, be good enough, or earn our way to salvation.
Mercy means God doesn't give us the punishment we deserve. When we were helpless sinners, condemned to death and hell, Jesus intervened. That's mercy.
2. Changed by His Grace
Grace goes beyond mercy. Grace is receiving what we could never deserve. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Jesus didn't just deliver Mary from her demons—He gave her a completely new life. He offers us the same. When you accept Christ, He doesn't just rescue you from hell; He gives you peace, joy, hope, and purpose. He makes you a new creation.
As 2 Corinthians 5:17 promises, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
3. Changed by His Love
Why would Jesus take time for a demon-possessed woman? Why would He die for sinners like us? The answer is simple yet profound: love.
John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
God's love motivated everything. He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins—past, present, and future.
Evidence of Transformation
When you truly know Jesus, your life will show it. Your priorities get rearranged. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you the moment you're saved, serving as your guarantee, your earnest deposit on eternity.
Mary became the last person at the cross and the first person at the tomb. Her devotion was evidence of her transformation. She had a burning desire to be in the presence of her Savior.
Do you have that same desire? Do you pray regularly? Do you study God's Word? Do you serve the Lord? Do you witness for Him? Do you worship with other believers?
These aren't requirements for salvation—they're the natural overflow of a transformed life. When Christ changes you, your desires change. The Holy Spirit guides you toward what is right and convicts you when you stray.
A Future Prearranged
Mary went to the tomb expecting to find a dead body. Instead, she encountered the risen Lord. The angel's message to her is still true today: "He is not here; He is risen!"
Because of Jesus' victory over death, everyone who knows Him has a prearranged future. You can plan your funeral down to the last detail, but if you know Jesus, your eternity has already been prepared.
Jesus promised in John 14:3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
In that place, there will be no more death, sorrow, pain, or crying. No more sin. Only God's perfection for all eternity.
The Gospel: Simple Yet Profound
The gospel is beautifully simple: Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). That's the good news.
When the Philippian jailer asked Paul, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul's answer was direct: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:30-31).
Not "believe and work." Not "believe and prove yourself." Just believe.
Salvation is a gift from God, received by faith alone. Jesus did all the work on the cross. Your debt has been paid in full. All He asks is that you accept His finished work by faith.
No matter where you've been or what you've done, your sin is not too great for the blood of Jesus to cover. He can save anyone who comes to Him in faith.
Today Is the Day
So here's the question you must answer: Do you know Jesus, or do you just know about Him?
Knowing facts about Christianity won't save you. Church attendance won't save you. Good works won't save you. Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through faith in His finished work on the cross can save you.
Today is the day of salvation. Don't assume you have tomorrow. As long as your heart is beating and you're breathing, Jesus is available. But why wait?
If a woman possessed by seven demons could be transformed, if the thief on the cross could be saved in his final moments, if the chief of sinners could be redeemed, then Jesus can save you too.
The invitation stands. Will you accept it?
No Comments