Introducing: Jesus Christ

John 21:25
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books which were written.

We express in song our desire to know Christ more intimately. We pray that our relationship with the Lord might continually grow and mature in wisdom, but how much time to we honestly dedicate to knowing and understanding the character of Christ. I am afraid that modern day Christians are more concerned with understanding the world around them than understanding their Savior and King. What about you? Could you tell a friend more about the life of Kobe Bryant, Brittany Spears, or Jesus Christ? Be careful, your answer may reflect your heart (Matthew 6:21).

The Gospel of John is full of amazing “signs and wonders” completed by the hands of our Lord. We have a front row seat to the private conversations, prayers, and miracles of Jesus. Each one of these was recorded with a specific purpose in goal. John, who most likely knew Christ better than any of the other disciples, sets out to do more than write the history of Jesus. He writes this gospel (“good news” in the Greek language) as a portrait of his Savior. When you and I read and study the gospels, we are doing more than remembering pointless stats or song lyrics. We are developing a deeper understanding of the heart of our Savior. With each verse I encounter fresh perspectives of His love, compassion, and forgiveness. When I see Him raise Lazarus from the dead, I understand that Christ is sad when I feel sad. I witness His joy in answering the requests of His children. I am taught that He has victory over death and the grave. Christ is shown to be fully man in His emotions, yet fully God in His control over the situation. All of this is from one story!

As you read, your faith will grow in relation to your understanding of Jesus. Your days will be less stressful with the peace that comes only from knowing God in this intimate manner. Your maturity as a follower of Christ will develop only with a dedicated commitment to spending time in the Word. John writes that there were many other things Jesus did. I’m not sure what I would do if presented with the opportunity to read those stories as well. Even now, with only four Gospels, I could spend the rest of my life dedicated to understanding the character of Christ and yet, still fall short of knowing Him completely. How much do you know? How much do you desire to know?