There is a big difference between knowing about someone and truly knowing them personally. This is especially true when it comes to knowing Jesus Christ. Many people know facts and details about Jesus. They may know that He was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, traveled around preaching and healing, was crucified on a cross, and rose from the dead. But this is very different from personally knowing Jesus in a relationship.
Knowing about Jesus means being aware of biblical facts about His life, ministry, and teachings. But knowing Jesus goes much deeper—it means having a personal relationship with Him by faith, communicating with Him in prayer, obeying His teachings, and experiencing His presence through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Knowing About Jesus
Knowing facts about Jesus is a good start, but it has limitations if that is as far as it goes. Consider these aspects of only knowing about Jesus:
- Knowing about Jesus often remains merely intellectual. The person may know biblical details but their heart and life remain unchanged.
- Knowing facts provides historical information but does not lead to a faith relationship.
- A head knowledge of Jesus does not mean He is Lord of one’s actual life.
- Information alone cannot transform a person’s heart or character to become more Christlike.
- Accurate knowledge may satisfy curiosity but does not bring salvation or redemption.
In John 5, Jesus interacted with Jewish religious leaders who knew a lot about the coming Messiah based on their study of Scripture. However, Jesus said to them, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39-40). Their great knowledge was missing the key component of faith in Jesus.
Knowing Jesus Personally
While knowing about Jesus is good in itself, God wants us to go beyond head knowledge to truly know Him in a personal relationship. Here are some marks of what it means to know Jesus experientially:
- Knowing Jesus involves an active faith and trust in Him that leads to salvation from sin (John 3:16).
- It means submitting your life fully to Jesus’ lordship and following Him (Luke 9:23).
- Knowing Jesus includes communicating with Him through prayer and listening to His voice through Scripture.
- Experiencing divine love as you abide in Christ and He lives within you (John 15:4-5).
- Having the power of the Holy Spirit transform you to be more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18).
- Developing a deepening friendship with Jesus day by day (John 15:14-15).
In Philippians 3, Paul counted all his impressive religious credentials and knowledge as loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord. Everything else paled in comparison to a transforming relationship with Jesus. Paul desired to know both the power of Christ’s resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings (Philippians 3:8-10).
Examples of Knowing About Jesus vs. Knowing Jesus
Consider a few biblical examples that illustrate the difference between head knowledge and truly knowing Jesus:
- Nicodemus – He was a religious leader who knew the Old Testament Scriptures well. But he lacked spiritual rebirth until his encounter with Jesus (John 3).
- Rich Young Ruler – He knew Jesus’ ethical teachings but was unwilling to surrender everything to follow Christ (Luke 18:18-23).
- Judas – As one of the Twelve, Judas knew Jesus’ ministry and miracles firsthand but betrayed Him.
- Peter – He walked closely with Jesus and declared Him the Messiah. But Peter still needed to grow in knowing Christ deeply (Matthew 16:13-23).
- Paul – The learned Pharisee had great knowledge of the Law but viewed Christ as a false prophet until his conversion (Acts 9).
- Martha – She knew Jesus as a friend but was distracted by busyness rather than choosing the fellowship of sitting at His feet (Luke 10:38-42).
Each of these people had knowledge about Jesus to varying degrees. But they needed a faith relationship with Him or a deepening of their existing fellowship with Christ. Mere facts were not enough.
Stages in Knowing Jesus More
For believers who already know Jesus, growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ is a lifelong process (2 Peter 3:18). Our relationship with Him can deepen progressively through spiritual maturity and close fellowship with God.
While experiences may vary, some common stages may include:
- Curiosity – Being drawn to find out more about Jesus through reading or hearing Scripture.
- Commitment – Making a decision to accept Christ, follow Him, and rely on His grace.
- Devotion – Pursuing spiritual disciplines like Bible study, prayer, fasting, worship.
- Communion – Sensing Christ’s presence strongly, communicating with Him meaningfully.
- Transformation – Seeing increasing fruit of the Spirit as Christ shapes your character.
- Intimacy with God – Growing in deep, close fellowship with Jesus day to day.
- Obedient Discipleship – Applying Jesus’ teachings to all areas of life and ministry.
- Maturing Faith – Responding like Christ more intuitively through a maturing faith.
There are always new depths and breadths to experience as we pursue knowing Jesus more each day for the rest of our lives.
Keys to Knowing Jesus More Deeply
If you want to grow beyond just facts about Jesus to knowing Him intimately, here are some helpful practices:
- Study the Gospels – Immerse yourself in the accounts of Christ’s life and words.
- Pray – Talk and listen to Jesus; cultivate your relationship.
- Meditate on Scripture – Take passages personally and let them saturate your heart.
- Worship – Meet God in worship and open your heart to Him.
- Serve Others – Live out Christ’s love and see His face in those you serve.
- Obey His Commands – Act on Jesus’ teachings and see what He reveals.
- Fellowship with Christians – Grow together with other believers.
- Experience Trials – Hardships strip away pretense and draw you to rely on Christ.
- Share Your Faith – Tell others about Jesus and watch Him work.
These spiritual practices help transform knowing about Jesus to a sincere, intimate, committed relationship with Him. It leads from religion to real, living faith.
The Benefits of Knowing Jesus Personally
Why does God want us to move beyond just knowing facts about Jesus to knowing Him intimately? There are many benefits to a close personal relationship with Christ, including:
- Forgiveness of sins – We are reconciled to God (Colossians 1:19-22).
- Eternal life – We gain resurrection life in Christ (John 11:25).
- Purpose – We know we are loved children of God with a mission (John 1:12).
- Freedom – We are liberated from sin, fear, and meaninglessness (Galatians 5:1).
- Strength – We have power to overcome challenges (Philippians 4:13).
- Guidance – We gain wisdom as the Spirit reveals God’s ways (Proverbs 3:5-6).
- Security – We are safe in God’s hands for eternity (John 10:27-29).
- Hope – We have confident expectation no matter our circumstances (Romans 15:13).
- Transformation – We are progressively changed to Christ’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18).
- Community – We are joined to the family of God (1 Peter 2:17).
These blessings of salvation, meaning, security, purpose, and hope are found in sincerely knowing Jesus rather than just possessing theoretical knowledge about Him.
Examples of People Who Knew Jesus Personally
While knowing facts about Jesus is limited, many people in the Bible give inspiring examples of what a transformative relationship with Christ looks like:
- Peter – After denying Jesus, Peter repented and was restored to fellowship, becoming a great leader in the early church.
- John – Known as the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” he records profound revelations of Christ in his gospel and letters.
- Mary Magdalene – Delivered from demons, she followed Jesus faithfully and was the first to see Him resurrected.
- The Apostle Paul – Once a persecutor of Christians, he encountered the risen Christ and became the greatest missionary.
- Timothy – Led to faith by his grandmother and Paul’s mentorship, he pastored the church at Ephesus.
- Priscilla and Aquila – This faithful couple knew Jesus intimately and instructed others like Apollos more accurately.
- Epaphras – This servant of Christ labored constantly in prayer for the Colossian believers to know Jesus fully (Colossians 4:12-13).
These early Christians prove that a life-changing relationship with Jesus was worth far more than head knowledge alone. They call us to pursue Christ wholeheartedly today.
Warnings About Knowing About Rather Than Knowing Jesus
Why does it matter whether we know Jesus personally versus just knowing theological facts about Him? Scripture gives strong warnings about the danger of professing to know God but lacking a relationship with Him:
- “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
- “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19). Demons know the truth about Christ but have no saving relationship with Him.
- “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work” (Titus 1:16). Empty profession is worthless.
- “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8). God wants more than lip service.
These passages give a sobering warning not to assume you know Christ just because you know correct doctrines about Him. Relationship is required, not mere information.
Jesus’ Invitation to Know Him
Jesus Himself issued a warm, gentle invitation to every person to move beyond knowing facts to sincerely knowing Him:
- “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
- “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
- “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).
Jesus wants a relationship with you. His invitation is open to leave behind empty religion and embrace Him as Savior and Lord. There is no greater privilege than knowing Christ personally.
Conclusion
Truly knowing Jesus goes far beyond head knowledge about Him. It means receiving Him by faith, entering an intimate friendship with Him, obeying His Word, communing in prayer, encountering His transforming power, and dedicating your whole life to His purposes. A relationship with Jesus impacts the heart and reorients all of life with new meaning, hope, security, freedom, and destiny. God invites every person to move beyond knowing about Jesus to sincerely knowing and following Him.