Knowing Him – John 17:1-3

1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

EXAMPLE

Burghardt DuBois, the great black educator, sociologist, and historian, upon completion of studies at Fisk, Harvard and the University of Berlin, was convinced that change in the condition of the American black could be effected by careful scientific investigations into the truth about the black in America. So he proceeded. His research was flawless and his graphs and charts impeccable. After waiting several years and hearing not the slightest stir of reform, Dr. DuBois had to accept the truth about Truth: Its being available does not mean it will be appropriated.

- Fred B. Craddock

LESSON

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

Know God is more than knowing about Him. We can have knowledge of God’s character, attributes and works which the Bible reveals, and yet not know God at all in a way that gives life. We need to entrust Him with our lives. We need to accept Him as Savior, believing that He shed His blood for us on the cross, dying a cruel death, so that we can have an eternal home in Heaven.

Dr. J.R. Miller, a wise preacher from the past, wrote about this verse in his old, greatly used devotional book, Come Ye Apart.

“But how can we meet God, and get personally acquainted with Him, and form this intimate friendship with Him? There is another word in this verse which helps us to the answer. That they might know thee… and Jesus Christ.” We are clearly taught elsewhere that we can know God only through Jesus Christ. “Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomever the Son will reveal him”. Jesus Christ is the revelation of the Father to men. We can get acquainted with Christ in His humanity and consequently know God and have Him for our nearest Friend. Robert Murray McCheyne said, “I seem to know more of the Lord Jesus Christ than of the most intimate friend I have on earth.” Should we not all seek after Christ’s personal friendship? The more we trust Him the more shall we know of Him, and the better shall we love Him.”

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death”