The difference in what you know vs. who you know…. At some point in your adult life you’ve encountered this statement as one who strives either to get in, get on, or get through. Perhaps even now you’re vacillating in how to accomplish such a feat; which one to choose based on what you know and hear. How you’ll invest in one of these 2 sides, you will pin your career hope. Same is true spiritually.
Imagine you’re at the Beach, seagulls swirling, waves crashing, kids playing, if you are – try this exercise, if not, just be jealous and pretend. Now, close your eyes as you grab two fistfuls of sand at your feet. With your eyes closed imagine you that you have a grasp of the whole world. It feels pretty good for the moment to have that sensation, but when you open your eyes, you clearly see you only have a
couple of fistfuls of sand.
The wiser we get, and not always just older, you and I come to realize that we know nothing. Looking back to the oftentimes we had a real grasp or handle of the situation; or the now leaking out of the fluid knowledge we once held about various subjects the more our eyes are now adjusted to the fact that we only had a fistful of the vast, and not really the whole. As in the exercise above with our eyes closed we sensed the ability to be able to grasp the all (imagination); when our eyes opened, we know we’ve only a portion of the vastness around us.
Partaking in this demonstration at the beach or otherwise, proves we all live in momentum, and/ or ambition in our jobs, communities, organizations, etc., and we’re a people, striving. Nothing wrong with that. A true statement. Spiritually speaking, when you come to the Gospel of John, I believe there’s a bit of similarity we need to grasp in order for us to see where we each of us is positionally, in relation to a whole.
Some 55 times is a reference “to know” in this particular Gospel.. In fact from its invitation to the middle (10:10) to its conclusion, is it stated that these things have been written so that you may ”know” this eternal life. As a writer, I hope that you have come to “know” this One who has invited you follow Him into this “life”.
Knowing things externally is not the same to know them experimentally. Every Mother will tell you from the outset, she does not know how to raise a child. Another true statement. But the gleanings we all can learn from a seasoned Mom are priceless.
Knowing about Jesus and hearing about his miracles and signs piqued the interest of many in the throng following Christ’s mission around the countryside. It didn’t imply that they were endearingly similar to the disciples. In appearance, the 12 whom the Lord had called did not appear to “know” Him at all. The relationship and Oneness with the Father, His purpose, His being transfigured before 3 of them, the Cross that lie-ahead all seem to be out of their mental grasp.
I highlighted knowing and hearing since we all carry this pre-judicial thinking about a truthful situation and measure where we might be in a certain predicament. Refer back to blog title.
The Pharisees, the good, self-righteous leaders of the day couldn’t seem to understand this guy at all. Why did He always perform such things on the Sabbath? Why did his disciples not properly wash before eating? etc., etc. This Christ, didn’t grasp position with the fluid knowledge of the world, but by this relationship He had with his Heavenly Father. His guidance seemed to be altogether different.
Much can be grasped educationally when trying to gain in this world. Philosophy and Religion were at their pinnacle when Christ arrived. Again, there’s nothing wrong with educating oneself. But to gain Christ, He had to be observed; He had to be someone absorbed. With consideration to perfect timing (Gal. 4:4) the God-Man who walked the face of the Earth didn’t necessarily need all that much time to just perform healings or show signs & wonders.
Within this built-in agenda was relationship. Jesus wanted his disciples to “know” Him. His Person. To spend time everyday learning Him (Matt 11:29). Taking Him in. Taking the thoughts, the teachings, the acts of love that were being displayed in the healings, the miracles, the feedings. When you particularly follow this Gospel from the Wedding at Cana unto the last Supper in John 14, there’s pattern of his Person that has been laid out for them to one day recognize by faith, but that wouldn’t come about until resurrection.
The Father knew exactly when the complete rejection by those who would not “know” Him as Life through faith – even though all the information and education of Who he is as Messiah had been made available. The building months and weeks up to the inspection of Him as a worthy Lamb, were pivotal for their putting off what they knew and heard.
Guidance (outward commands, instructions, and check-lists) which many religious people know and like i.e. Do this, Don’t do that. It’s an external value system that gets you just enough. Just enough of what you need to know. This could look like just knowing enough of how to be saved from Hell. Quite the bare minimum for salvation I agree. However, will that be enough when the times hit hard, and they will? Will the external commands be enough when your family faces severe droughts or tragedies? How can the check lists help during the intense testings and trials?
Jesus knew those who only followed to get the bread and the miracles. He didn’t reject them. In fact He invited them to partake of Him as food (John 6:50-51). Someone who you could absorb as food, as nutrition while you’re going through your tough trial, while you’re wandering (probably in) your vast desert trial right now.
Jesus never sugar-coated what it meant to follow (Luke 14:28-33) because the hardships they faced as disciples, the rejections they received from their own family, friends, and co-workers are just the same as what me and you may be experiencing right now. Today. The difference in what you know about Christianity and Who you know as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, is like the exercise we took earlier. It’s merely a grasp-hold, not enough.
Even when after many years of following you can observe in your “knower” that you now know nothing, or less of the more, because He who knows all is striving to get you to still learn ever more of His vastness each and every day that you’ll follow (John 17:3). The peace which surpasses all understanding, (Phil. 4:7) is a peace so vast it must be absorbed daily. Momentary Presence, Peace, Love – He’s the known One that will get you through the door, get you that opportunity. Knowing Him, the only thing that will get you through.
Thanks for reading. Best day ever.
