Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Jesus Knows

To be with Jesus is a wonderful thing. He knows everything. When I read the gospels, I can see this in His interactions with people. And Jesus told us that if we have seen Him we have seen the Father, since He is the exact representation of the Father in heaven. Let’s look at some examples:

Jesus knew what people were thinking
And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven." And some of the scribes said to themselves, "This fellow blasphemes." And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk'? "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--then He *said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." And he got up and went home. (Mat 9:2-7)

You see how He knew their thoughts and what they were saying to themselves silently?

Since Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is ruined. And every city or household divided against itself will not last. (Mat 12:25)

At once, Jesus knew inwardly what they were thinking. He asked them, "Why do you have these thoughts? (Mar 2:8)

Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, "What are you thinking? (Luk 5:22)

But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Get up, and stand in the center of the synagogue!" The man got up and stood there. (Luk 6:8)

Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he took a little child and had him stand beside him. (Luk 9:47)

The Lord knows what you are thinking before you even say a word. So when you go to the Father in prayer, don’t worry about finding the right words to say. Just say it! He already knows what you’re thinking anyway.

Jesus knew what people had heard
Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that he was making and baptizing more disciples than John. (Joh 4:1). When I used to read this, I just figured someone had informed Jesus that the Pharisees had heard that he was making more disciples than John. But it doesn’t say that in the Scriptures. No one had to tell Jesus what the Pharisees had heard about Him. He just knew it in his spirit.

So when you hear about something, the Lord knows it. If you find out about something, whether good or bad news, no matter what it is you learn about, He knows it. So go ahead and discuss it with the Lord in prayer. It’s no surprise to Him that you know it.

Jesus knew who would believe and who would betray Him
But some of you don't believe." Jesus knew from the beginning those who wouldn't believe and the one who would betray him. (Joh 6:64).

(Jesus knew who was going to betray him. That's why he said, "All of you, except for one, are clean.") (Joh 13:11)

Isn’t that amazing! From the beginning, even when he chose Judas, He knew that Judas would betray Him. It was never a surprise to Him.

The Lord knows who will believe and who will betray Him.

But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away." Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." (Mat 26:33-34)

Jesus even knows who will deny Him. He knew in advance that Peter would do so. And no matter what you have done, the Lord already knows about it. He knew you would do it before it even happened. But He tells us to repent, which means to change your mind. He tells us to come to the Father and ask for His forgiveness for our sins. Nothing you have done will surprise Him, so don’t be afraid to bring it before Him.

Jesus knew when His time had come to leave this world
Before the Passover festival, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go back to the Father. Jesus loved his own who were in the world, and he loved them to the end. (Joh 13:1)

At any given time, Jesus knew what was about to happen next. The same is true for you. The Lord always knows what is about to happen next in your life. And when your time comes to leave this world, the heavenly Father knows it. That’s why it’s so important to stay close to Him. He might give you a clue that it’s about to happen, just like He did to Peter and to Elijah.

Jesus knew where He came from and where He was going
The Father had put everything in Jesus' control. Jesus knew that. He also knew that he had come from God and was going back to God. (Joh 13:3).

He was never just assuming or guessing about His identity or where He came from or where He was going. And when He lives in your heart, you don’t have to guess about it either.

When I ask people sometimes if they know where they are going when they die, many people often say, “Well, I hope I’m going to heaven.” But you don’t have to just hope. You can know for sure, just as Jesus did.

Jesus knew when they wanted to ask Him something
Jesus knew they wanted to ask him something. So he said to them, "Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you won't see me, and in a little while you will see me again'? (Joh 16:19)

Before they even asked Him a question, even when they were still just wanting to ask him the question, Jesus already knew about it. In fact, He knew exactly what the question was before they asked it! When you go to the Father in prayer, He already knows what you want to ask Him.

Jesus knew all men
Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man. (Joh 2:23-25)

You see, Jesus knows all men. He knows you, and He knows what’s inside your heart.

Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to Him
Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So he went to meet them and asked, "Who are you looking for?" (Joh 18:4)

Nothing they did to Jesus caught him by surprise. He knew everything that was going to happen to Him. And He knows everything that is going to happen to you and me, too. Just as the psalmist wrote: “Every day of my life was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place.” (Psa 139:16)

Jesus knew when His work on earth was finished
After this, when Jesus knew that everything had now been finished, he said, "I'm thirsty." He said this so that Scripture could finally be concluded. (Joh 19:28).

There comes a point in everyone’s life when his or her purpose on earth has been fulfilled. Jesus knew when He had finished His work on earth. There will come a point when your work is finished, too, if you are faithful. The heavenly Father will know when that time comes, and He may let you know also.

Putting it All Together

When you know the Lord, it’s such a joy! He knows everything about you, including what you are thinking, what you want to ask Him, and what you have heard. No matter what you have heard, you can bring it before Him in prayer.

He knows the mistakes you will make, who will deny Him, and who will fall. No matter what you have done, you should simply repent and ask for His forgiveness. He’s waiting for you. Then stop doing whatever it is you did wrong.

He knows all men, women, and children. He knows what's in each person.

He knows everything that is about to happen to you next. Nothing will be a surprise to Him, although it may be a complete surprise to you. Rest in the awareness that He knows your future – the next five minutes, as well as the rest of your life.

He knows when your work on earth is completed. He already knows in advance the day and hour it will occur. If you walk closely with Him, I believe He gives some people the blessing of allowing them to sense when they have completed their work and fulfilled their purpose in life. Until then, continue to labor in His vineyard with whatever He tells you to do.

If you enjoyed this post, I invite you to also read my previous post called Election and Predestination.
Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. 

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.