Do You Know Jesus

“Do You Know Him?”

John 14:1-9

David P. Nolte

(I am indebted to Peter Hockley for the basis for the three major points today. I have modified his to some degree)

Many people had seen Jesus do signs and miracles. and had heard him preach. Many could tell you that He came from Nazareth and was the son of Joseph and Mary. The downtrodden and despised knew Him as Friend. The pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees knew Him as an up-setter of their applecarts.

But do you know Him – not know about Him – but know Him? Jesus equates salvation with knowing Him rightly. He said, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3 (NASB).

Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless-living, sin-forgiving, miracle-working, God-revealing, Father-pleasing, cross-enduring, death-defeating, devil-defying Messiah – the Christ. But do you know Him?

The ladies’ song asks, “Do you know my Jesus? Do you know my friend? Have you heard He loves you, And that He will abide till the end?” (Vep Ellis).

Let’s read the Scripture: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:1-9 (NASB).

I. JESUS IS THE ROAD ON WHICH WE TRAVEL:

A. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6 (NASB).

1. The word for “way” means “road.”

2. Barnes’ commentary says, “By this is meant, doubtless, that they and all others were to have access to God only by obeying the instructions, imitating the example, and depending on the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ.” I.e., “No other way will get you to God.”

3. To illustrate. Marlene and I and the Childers clan live on Tapper Lane. To drive there you have no choice but to go by way of Highway 226! No other road will get you there!

4. Jesus said, “I am the way.” Now, He has no intention of representing Himself as an actual strip of blacktop. He speaks metaphorically to indicate that there is no way to God but Him.

5. He is the way, and we need to walk in His steps, going the way He sets before us.

B. Traveling the Jesus road:

1. Means treating others as He treated them:

a. He reached out to the rejected.

b. He forgave His offenders.

c. He was kind and merciful to those whose lives were in shambles.

d. He used His resources for the good of someone in need.

2. It also means surrendering your will to God as He did even to death.

3. It means exercising self-denial.

4. It means resisting the evil one in times of temptation.

5. It means pleasing God even when it displeases men.

6. It means that our wills and minds and desires are toward God.

C. The old saying was, “All roads lead to Rome.”

1. True or not, this is true, “Jesus is the only way to God!”

2. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB).

D. So, “Do you know my Jesus? Do you know my friend? Have you heard He loves you, And that He w ill abide till the end?”

E. A child became separated from his parents in a large city where they were visiting friends. He was frightened, but he knew that the friends lived right next to a church with a tall steeple. However, he had no clue how to get there. He saw a policeman on the corner and said, “Please, sir – I’m lost, but I know I need to get to a church with a large cross on top, because our friends live next door.”