Do You Know the Lord?

The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

Here we see that serving God always comes with some risks. At this time, Jesus was under constant threat to his life nor was he afraid because he knew the Father’s plan all along. The Father, it seemed, had a plan far different than hours. Though perhaps their warnings were misplaced. These same Pharisees, or super strict religious leaders often righteous in their own sight, that warned him would later be the same ones who put him to death. Perhaps that is not always easy to understand. Yet still it is necessary to see to understand what happens next. See, Jesus was not just some victim of a random hate-filled attack. Nor were the religious leaders unable to see any healed or blessed much less to enter in it themselves. Rather, it was in his plan all along that he lay down his life for all of mankind. Just as he laid it back down, so would he take it back up.

And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Notice how Jesus calls Herod a fox. Now it doesn’t just refer to an animal but also to a sneaky, cunning person as this one here. At no time had Herod ever expressed interest in plotting his demise. He merely mentioned it to see what the Pharisees thought. In response, Jesus has summed up his ministry, or reasons for killing him quite simply. Here’s what they are: he cast out devils, he cured the sick, and he also was perfect. This last quality made him an authority on matters of God. See too how he knew the people. He knew all their issues and flaws and even their spiritual condition without them hardly needing to say a word. Such could only be God for who else knew us so well.

Nevertheless I must walk to day, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

Here Jesus has laid out what he was doing, is doing, and still yet will do. It is important though to note your response. In essence, Jesus is saying that the people knew him as a great prophet albeit one that walked all the time. More than that, he was likely gone for days on end. Yet that is not just what the people knew him as. See, knowing him can make all the difference in the world. It is what makes a son and an heir of his body, seated with him in Heavenly places.

Let us see it now. Knowing makes the difference between a walk, a walk, and a walk. I can go with you somewhere and not know where it is we are going. I also can go with you and have heard somewhat about where we are going. At the last though, I can’t really go with you without having known, touched, tasted, handled, and experienced the place for myself. Really though, how do you know him today?