I stand before You, awed by Your majesty
Covered by Your mercy, Your blood has made me free
Draw me to You and set my heart on fire
I want to know You, You’re my one desire
I give You my worship
All of my passion
I give You my whole heart
All my devotion
Grace never ending, Your hands they carry me
Body that was broken, for all the world to see
My heart is held by love so unconditional
You captivate me, You’re the lover of my soul
I give You my worship
All of my passion
I give You my whole heart
All my devotion
Here I will bow down
And say that I need You
Here I will worship
And say that I love You
Oh how I love you
Oh how I love you
I want to know You
Let Your spirit overwhelm me
Let Your presence overtake my heart
Worship Song: “I Want To Know You” by Jesus Culture Band
The reason you and I need to know Jesus is because you and I need Him! God is holy and we are not. “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The greatest transaction in the history of the world occurred when Jesus (who knew no sin) exchanged His righteousness for humanity’s sin, taking it on Himself (becoming sin for us). He received what every person really deserved – death on a cross; but by faith, sinners receive what He deserved – God’s acceptance and eternal life with Him.
That’s a lot to absorb, I know. Maybe I can explain a little more of who Jesus was before I tell you who He is. If you have been reading any of my other tracts you will know, in one of them I mentioned that in the beginning when the earth was formed and we were created, there were three creators, not just one, God the Father, God the Son – Jesus and God the Holy Spirit. They were already there, they existed before time began. These three worked as if they were just one person. But, God the Father is the head of the household and He is in control.
Back in the days of the Pharisees, among others who criticized Jesus, He told them that before Abraham was, He himself was. They were dumb-founded how can this be Abraham is dead and Jesus was in his 30’s. (John 8: 48-59) But it wasn’t until God the Father said He had to seriously do something because man was over run with sin and this wasn’t what He wanted for mankind. That’s when He sent Jesus down to earth in the flesh. And there we have the birth of Jesus by Mary a virgin, as foretold by Isaiah (11 and 7:14 ) and Matthew (1-2).
Then we have Jesus as a boy in the temple talking with the learned men and surprising them with His knowledge. Jesus’ parents were worried about what he was up to, but Jesus said He was supposed to be doing His Father’s (God the Father) business. Luke 2:49, “And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Jesus lived in relative seclusion for about 30 years without publicly revealing His identity and purpose, perhaps as a carpenter like his earthly father Joseph. But soon it would be time for Him to prepare for his ministry as the Son of heaven.
Here we have Jesus being tempted by Satan (Luke 4:1-13)…just as we are today. Satan tempts us when we are weakened and prone to giving in. But Jesus didn’t give in. He stood fast by what His Father wanted Him to do. Which made Him without sin and unblemished.
Next we know Jesus as the teacher who gathered disciples to follow Him and taught them the way they should go and to carry on after He went back to His Father in heaven. During this time He healed the sick, the blind, the lame…a great healer. He preached to multitudes about how to live and live good and right and how to love one another. Much of what we are not doing today. Jesus’ commandment which is the essence of His love is found in John 15:12-13 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
Lastly, we know Jesus as the Man of Sorrows who took all of mankind’s sin upon Himself and died in our stead that we would be forgiven and made a way to a life more abundant and a life ever after, if we follow Him. For through Him and only Him are we saved and guaranteed a place in heaven.
But Who IS He Really? Do We Really Know Him?
The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the final word of God the Father to his people. Hebrews 1:1-2, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds (ages);”
God sent many others before, Abraham, Moses, Noah et al, but man just kept doing what they wanted. Kept living in sin decade after decade, but Jesus is greater than them all. Jesus is God’s final revelation. John 1:14, “The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Jesus existed before time and will be at the end of time. Jesus controls history. Jesus is the ultimate. His blood was shed to cleanse man from their sin. He gave man a way out. Through Him would be the only way man would see the Father. God’s gift to man is Jesus his loved son. Jesus’ gift to man was love by laying down His life for us. Jesus is Love.
In Jesus we find more than the voice of God, we find the enduring principles of the faith, all knowledge of the truth, and direct access the the very grace of God to help us in our time of need. Can you think of any other person, living or dead, who would take on so much despisement or torture or abuse, even death to save our sorry souls?
Finally, Jesus LIVES. Luke 24:2-3, “But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” 24:5, “…Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!…” And because He lives, we will live. We will win the war against Satan, because Jesus has already won that war. Most Christians should know the outcome of what Satan is in for. We don’t have to go that route…Jesus provides the clear and unobstructed way.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
by Bill Gaither (b1936-) Contemporary Gospel Singer/Songwriter
By the grace of God, I know Jesus. He is my Saviour, and He is my Lord.
Do you know Him?