What Can We Know?

Jesus once said, "My sheep know my voice, " and that on account of that familiarity, they would follow him (John 10:3-4). He also said that they would not recognize the voice of others who claim to be shepherds of the sheep, but are in it for what they can get, or because they are hired to look after the sheep, but have no personal or emotional investment in their welfare (John 10:5, 12-13). The implication is that we can know the truth about Jesus, about who he is, and his claims to have been sent by God, the Father, as his authentic and accurate representative.

Some of the most controversial things Jesus said, which almost got him stoned to death on occasions, were that he had come from God, and that the one the Jews of his day called "God" was his Father, and that he had come to do his will and not his own (John 5:16-18). When John wrote his gospel, it was with an opening premise in which Jesus not only existed with God before time and creation began (John 1:1), but that he, the Word, had become flesh and dwelt among human beings, in the context of Palestinian Judaism of the first century, under Roman rule (John 1:9-14). God entering into human history, to be perfectly revealed and known through a perfect and accurate representative of himself in a fully human form (John 1:4, 9, 14-18). He had come from the very side of God the Father, a place of intimacy, fellowship, and shared nature, so that he might reveal God in a way he had never been known before. We have seen his glory, John said, the glory of God, and it has been revealed to us in the One and Only Son of God, Jesus Christ (John 1:18).

One day, in an outburst of something between amazement at what Jesus was saying, and maybe confused frustration at Jesus' somewhat indirect style of communication, Philip pleads, "Show us the Father and that will be enough to keep us going!" (John 14:8). Jesus' response was direct, and clear, If you know and see me you have already seen God perfectly revealed (John 14:10). He did not speak on his own authority, Jesus said, or do whatever he pleased, he spoke for and acted at the direction of God his Father, and the works that he did (the miracles and even his resurrection ultimately) were a witness, providing the evidence (proof) that he had come from God (John 14:10-11). Jesus said he was the only way to Father, and if you have seen him and know him, you know God, and from now on you do, can and will know him more perfectly in a growing measure (John 14:6-7; cf. 1 John 1:5-7). Indeed, in his great high priestly prayer, Jesus comments that real life, what it means to have abundant life (John 10:10), or to have light that is life for human beings (giving meaning , purpose, satisfaction, and joy in their existence), is actually to KNOW God (John 17:3). Life, real meaningful and satisfying life, is not mere existence, biological and chemical function, it is conscious knowledge of God, and intimate fellowship with him.

Jesus claimed that he was the only way to know God, because he had been sent by God, and that the evidence of his claims were the works he did, and ultimately that he rose from the dead (John 10:17-18). Jesus said, that he had come to give life to his sheep, to those who choose to follow him (John 10:25-29). God can be known, not only in his creation, but through a relationship with Jesus Christ, based on faith that evaluates the evidence and exercises faith in Christ for salvation. Jesus reveals God to us more and more as we hear his voice and follow him. Yes, it requires a certain amount of trust to verify the truth of his claims. And that is what happened with Jesus' disciples as they lived with him, served with him, preached with and for him, and ultimately saw him alive after his crucifixion, and were convinced (cf. John 6:67-69).

Jesus made a telling comment to Thomas, one of his12 disciples, who after Jesus' resurrection was reported to him, said he would not believe (strong negation in the Greek meaning by no means), unless he saw him physically alive and touched his wounds (John 20:24-25). Thomas had been missing the first time Jesus appeared to the 12 and others in the upper room in the late evening of that first day ((John20:19-24). When Jesus appeared the next week under similar circumstances, he zeroed in on Thomas straight away, and invited him to touch his body, and examine his wounds to VERIFY he was real and psychically present (John 20:26-27)! Thomas's response will forever be a central confession of faith, reacting to the evidence and truth, he blurts out, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Jesus in turn reacted to Thomas's confession of faith, and commended it. But he rather commended the faith of those would not see for themselves in the same way as Thomas had but would believe in the gospel testimony, faithfully preserved in the scriptures (John 20:29).

John ends his gospel with these words, "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (The New International Version (Jn 20:30–31). (2011). Zondervan). It is not IMPOSSIBLE to know God. He can be known in his creation, and more importantly he can be known in the person of Jesus Christ, Son of God, and eternal Word (John 1:1-3).

Next time, if God had to describe himself to us, what would he say (Ex. 43:6-7)?