Knowing Christ Beyond the Doctrine

Since childhood there has been one thing that I did not want to become: I didn't want to become a "Christian" who knew a lot about Christ... without really knowing Him.

I was reminded of this during my Scripture reading this week when I came across John 14:9 where Jesus is recorded as saying to one of the twelve disciples, Philip :

"Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?"

This is one of several passages where Jesus indicates that there is a level where people can be around Jesus for a long time, even accomplishing miracles in His Name, and yet in the end they just simply do not know Jesus¹... and Jesus does not know them².

The "know" [knowledge] that Jesus refers to is not an informational knowledge, but is instead a relational knowledge.  Jesus of course, being God and thus being omniscient (all-knowing), knows everyone in the informational sense.  He even knows all of the trivial information about every person, like the number of hairs on every person's head³.

He does not, however, know everyone relationally.  This relational knowledge only comes through experience, and this experience only comes through personal contact with intimate interaction.

As Missional Christians we are called to not only know the doctrines (teachings) of Christ, but we are also called (commissioned) to know Christ relationally -- a relational knowledge that comes through personal and intimate interaction with Him while we live out our lives here on earth⁴.

Let's strive everyday to draw nearer and nearer to Christ relationally.  Let's not just work for Him... let's work with Him to fulfill His commission: to know Him!

References:

1. Matthew 7:22 | 2. Matthew 7:23 | 3. Matthew 10:30 | 4. Matthew 10:34