Getting to Know Jesus

Sometimes people looking to evangelize will say, "Do you know Jesus?" If you don't "know" Jesus you might be puzzled as to what they mean. Or you might respond, "Yes, I know who Jesus is. He was a great prophet" or "He is the Savior of the world" or "He suffered and died so we could go to Heaven." But all these statements of belief are not "knowing" Jesus; they are knowing about Jesus.

  First you meet Jesus through others. They teach you about Jesus, who He is, why He came to live on earth, why He suffered and died in such a cruel way. They teach you the Bible and perhaps the catechism, if the denomination has one. You grow in faith in Him.

  Then you are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 28:19). It's when you are baptized that you receive the Holy Spirit. And it's the Holy Spirit that enables you to "know" Jesus; to experience His Presence within you; to "hear" Him speaking to you and guiding you.

  Although baptism and receiving the power of the Holy Spirit is a one-time event, the power of the Holy Spirit increases in you over time as you grow in faith and surrender to God. The more you grow in the power of the Holy Spirit, the more clearly you experience Jesus. It's a little like light bulbs. When you are baptized you may receive 25 watts. At the Sacrament of Confirmation it may go up to 50 watts. If Christians pray over you for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, maybe it will go up to 200 watts. There is no limit to the power of the Holy Spirit. We are the ones who limit Him due to lack of faith, unwillingness to surrender to God or many other reasons.

  So to get back to my original statement, "Do you know Jesus?" If not, then find a church or group of Christians who are living in the power of the Holy Spirit and let them show you how to find Him. First you meet Him through others; then you meet Him for yourself.