In Matthew 11, Jesus said: “Learn of Me,” then He began revealing Who He is and what He is like. This revelation of Jesus Christ demonstrates and reveals God’s provided Savior and Redeemer for our souls. Jesus the Christ is inviting each of us to come to Him and learn Him and then after the invitation, He begins revealing Himself.
Matthew 11:29 AMP Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
Jesus said: “I am gentle and humble in heart.”
Have you considered that God is gentle and humble in heart? We need to know everything the Bible says about God, but we also need to know Him personally and intimately.
When John the Baptist introduced Him at the Jordan River, he said Jesus is the Son of God.
John said he saw the third person of the trinity, the Holy Spirit, descend on Jesus Christ in the form of a dove. Then He heard the Father from heaven say: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” We need to know and believe that Jesus is God’s Son.
Jesus’ “I AM” statements help reveal Who He is.
- “I AM the Bread of Life” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51). He is the bread that supplies life.
- “I AM HE” (John 4:26; 8:24, 28; 18:5, 6, 8). He is the Messiah, the answer for the world and the solution for your difficulty.
- “I AM the Light of the world” (John 8:12). He gives light to a dark world and exposes sin and provides salvation.
- “I AM the Door of the sheep” (John 10:7, 9). He protects, shields and provides an entrance into God’s blessings.
- “I AM the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14). He is the Lord our Good Shepherd Who lays down His life for His sheep.
- “I AM the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25). Anyone who believes in Him receives life.
- “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). He is the only way to the Father. He is the true revelation of the Father. He gives us real life.
- “I AM the True Vine” (John 15:1, 5). You can have complete confidence and security in Him for He supplies everything that you need. Anyone who abides in Him receives life.
It is not enough for Jesus to know Who He is.
Jesus asked His disciples what everyone else was saying about Him.
Some said He was John the Baptist and others said He was Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophets. It was easier for them to believe that He was someone from the Old Testament.
Matthew 16:15–17 NLT Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.”
“Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter said: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
How can we learn the truth about Jesus Christ?
Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.”
To discover who Jesus Christ is requires an action from heaven.
If we are really going to know Jesus, we need the help of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes, He will convince people of the truth of Who Jesus is. The Holy Spirit will take every necessary step to help you discover and know Jesus Christ.
We need to know Who Jesus is.
Jesus is different than Moses, Elijah, any of the prophets or John the Baptist. Historical evidence about Jesus is astounding.
His claims to be the Son of God were substantiated with many infallible proofs.
His teachings were ultimate.
Everything He said carried the supreme authority of the Father in heaven. He never had to retract or change His word or mind. He never had to apologize for errors or failures. He never had to revise or reconsider what He said or did. He never had to guess or suppose because He spoke with certainty. There is no greater certainty than “I AM.”
John 8:58 NKJV Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
“I AM” refers to the eternal unchanging self-existent God. Jesus possessed the eternal certainty of knowing Who He is. He knew He is the all powerful and eternal Son of God. He was before Abraham, Moses, Adam and Eve.
In Matthew 11:29 While declaring the absolute timelessness of His deity, “I AM”, Jesus said: “For I AM gentle and humble in heart…”
He had this timeless position with the Father and He knew Who He is. Since He had this confident knowledge, He was able to declare it with a gentle and humble heart.
Philippians 2:6–11 NKJV Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Listen carefully to these words.
He is equal with God. His name is above every other name in heaven or earth. He has been highly exalted by God the Father.
How can you really know who Jesus is?
You can truly know Jesus by experiencing the reality of His redeeming, reconciling, and saving grace. Only Jesus can pay the price to clear the debt we owed. Only He can restore us to peace, joy and love with the Father.
Only Jesus can.
Galatians 4:6–7 CEV Now that we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. And His Spirit tells us that God is our Father. You are no longer slaves. You are God’s children, and you will be given what He has promised.
Right now, the Holy Spirit is working in you to make the reality of Jesus Christ known in your hearts and life.
What does it mean to know Jesus Christ?
John 8:31–32 NKJV Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
As Jesus spoke, many believed in Him and then He said, “If you keep on obeying what I have said, the truth will set you free.” (CEV) They did not understand this word “free,” for they had never been a slave.
How could they be made free?
John 8:34–36 NKJV Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” When you really know Jesus, you will be made free. Have you considered that you are really “free indeed”? Knowing Jesus makes you free from the powers of sin and the rule of Satan. In John 14, Jesus helped His disciples discover Who He really is. The encounter took place the last week Jesus was with them. For three years, Jesus showed them Who He is. He showed them His power. He walked on water, released captives, raised the dead and healed multitudes of their sick. He fed them and protected them.
They saw Him.
John 14:9 NKJV Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
How could they not know Him?
“Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been with you for so long?” You could put your name there. How could they discover Who Jesus really is?
Watching Jesus do miracles was not enough for them.
It is important for believers to see what Jesus does. We need to know that He is a miracle worker and that He heals the sick, controls the forces of nature, and has power over life and death. We need to know He can forgive sins.
Listening to His teaching was not enough.
His words are truth and life and have the full authority of the Father.
Walking with Him and eating with Him was not enough.
We need to experience the tender care and supply of the Gentle Shepherd. Seeing how He lived and died is important.
Something had to happen so that they could really discover Who Jesus is.
John 16:13–14 NIV84 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you.
How will the Holy Spirit help you discover Christ?
When the Holy Spirit comes in, He will guide you into all truth. He will take from what belongs to Christ and make it known to us. He will help us discover Christ’s authority, wisdom, and power. By working in us the Holy Spirit will constantly magnify and glorify Christ. He is not just giving us lessons about Christ; the Holy Spirit is working Christ’s nature and power into us. Every gift, blessing, and miracle helps you discover Christ. Every help, encouragement and work brings you into a greater discovery of Jesus Christ.
This discovery of Christ is what makes you an overcoming and powerful Christian.
The discovery is much more than an intellectual or emotional pursuit of Christ.
It is Christ in you.
“Christ in you” is the hope of glory. “Christ in you” is the power of God’s Spirit living and working in you. “Christ in you” changes your nature, behavior and destiny.
The Holy Spirit is working in you to cause you to discover “all that Christ is.”
He is not satisfied with a mediocre change in your life. The Holy Spirit is removing your old nature and giving you a new nature and life in Christ. He is making you a new person in Christ and He will not stop until the old is gone and the new has come.
The Holy Spirit is not working on the basis of what you have been over the short period of your life.
He is taking from the wealth, power, and victory of Christ and is working that into your life. He is not establishing your faith and victory on the basis of your past works, failures or feelings. He is not leaving you to live on the strength of your own goodness.
Have you read the Acts of the Apostles?
They were constantly involved in the discovery of Christ. They were pressing on to know the Lord in the power of His resurrection. They wanted to be conformed into the image of Christ.
This is where the Holy Spirit is active in us.
We are not left to practice the Christian life on our own. Jesus said the Father would send the Holy Spirit to help you in all of your weaknesses. Where we are weak or in trouble, the Holy Spirit comes in and helps us. He is constantly speaking to our inward man. He says, “Let the power of Christ work in that area.” He says, “You are feeling inadequate, so, let Me give you boldness, strength, and encouragement there.”
The Holy Spirit does not want you to develop a greater reliance or dependence on your own strengths.
He says, “Look to Jesus Christ and live.” He says, “There are riches of Christ’s glory and grace for you in that area of your life.” He says, “Here is some rest, peace and deliverance for your situation.”
The Holy Spirit is busy conforming us into the nature and character of Christ.
God wants to bring you to this place of victory and life in Christ. He is bringing you into new life in Christ.
