That We May Know Him

Did you ever wonder why God not only allowed, but even planned for Jesus to be born in this world of sin?  Many people might answer, and rightly so, that the main reason was ... "to seek and save that which was lost."  (Luke 19:10) 

As I began thinking about this question, and although it's not all-inclusive, I believe the following reason should also be near the top of the list ...

"So that we may know Him." 

This phrase is what I want to look at today.  Now the question becomes ... so that we may know ... "who?"

The disciple that I believe knew Jesus best, made the above statement in 1st John 5:20.  These are not the words of Jesus.  These are the words of John. 

"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true.  And we are in Him who is true by being in His Son Jesus Christ.  He is the true God and eternal life."  (NIV)

As I consider this scripture, the answer to who John is speaking of when he says, "so that we may know Him," to me seems obvious, but this verse has stirred much debate and discussion over time.  There has been much difference of opinion as to whether the word "Him" in this phrase refers to Jesus or to God the Father.

The first thing I notice is that John is saying that we are in Him ... who is true.  But that doesn't really tell us whether it's Jesus or God the Father does it. 

This scripture states that the coming of Jesus, gave us understanding ... and for what purpose ... to know God.  To know God as Jesus knew Him ... as a God of love and grace and mercy.  As a father figure who longs for an intimate relationship with His children that He didn't have before.  John experienced and knew this from being personally taught by Jesus, and it shows through in his writings about our Father in Heaven.  

There was an earlier time when John and the other disciples may not have known God as the loving father Jesus was portraying Him to be.  But Jesus spoke of His father as a God of love and mercy and lived out that example in front of them.

One time in the temple during the feast of tabernacles, Jesus addressed the rulers of the people, which included the scribes and Pharisees who were supposed to know God but obviously didn't.  By now they sought to kill Him.  But no matter, Jesus proclaims boldly anyway in John 7:28 ...

"I am not come of myself, but He that sent me is true, whom you know not.  But I know Him: for I am from Him, and He sent me."

From this verse, we find Jesus saying He didn't come on His own, but He was sent by Him that is true, meaning His Father ... the God of Israel. 

Notice as well, Jesus states ... "whom you know not" ... which goes back to my suggestion as to one of the reasons Jesus was sent ... "so that we may know Him" ...  not meaning Himself, but His father, the one He was presenting as a God of love.

Returning back to my key verse, I want you to look a another phrase John places here ... "and we are in Him that is true, in His Son Jesus Christ."

We have already established that God the Father is the one meant here as true.  By John saying we are in Him (God the Father) ... he is clarifying it's through being in His Son Jesus.

In this dissertation I have been working the thought ... "that we may know Him" ... not the God of the Old Testament, not the Law giver who was revered and yet feared by the saints of old, but the God Jesus pictured as His loving father.  Yes, still holy, but with open arms you can run to.  And if you can't run to Him, you can call out to Him.

When Jesus came, He portrayed God in this whole new light ... as a loving, kind and merciful Father.  And the only way Jesus could do that was to say ... "I and my Father are one."   (John 10:30)

Jesus was basically saying, if you want to know what God is like, then look at who I am and what I'm like, because ... "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father."  (John 14:9)

The Apostle Paul describes Jesus this way in Colossians 1:15 … "He is the exact likeness of the unseen God, the visible representation of the invisible …"  (Amp.)

The image that is seen is that of the Son of God.  He is the perfect and complete eternal image of His Father ... more than a shadow or a representation, more than just a visible likeness.  This "image" includes the same nature and perfections as God the Father, but in His own personality and distinction as the Son.

Hebrews 1:3 puts it this way … "He is the sole expression of the glory of God ... He is the perfect imprint and the very image of God's nature ..."  (Amp.)

If you want to know who God is … look at Jesus ... who is the visible face of God.  He is the very image and nature of the invisible God, the express image of His person, and is such a likeness that it can be said, that …

"He who has seen the one has seen the other."

That's why Jesus came ... "that we may know Him."



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