To know and to be known

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7,22-23 (NKJV)

In the book of Matthew, Chapter 5 to 7, Jesus is addressing his disciples. Jesus had been healing a great multitude of people from various kinds of diseases. “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, …” (Matthew 5,1-2). The way Jesus talked to the multitudes was different from the way He talked to His disciples. With His disciples, He went deeper in teachings, explaining more to them than to the large crowd.

This goes to say that our willingness to learn determines how much we actually receive. Jesus said: “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.” (Luke 8,17 NKJV). Whatever is 'hidden' by God is intended to be revealed. In fact, “…God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2,10 NKJV) 

The words that Jesus spoke in the opening Scripture (Matthew 7,22-23) is one of those hard truths that are very sobering. Jesus is talking about the day of judgment in the kingdom of heaven. And to think that “MANY” will be prohibited from entering is appalling. But this is not meant to scare you! At all! This is to show how serious and fundamental this issue is: to be known by Jesus. To Jesus, what comes first is a relationship not performances even when done in His name.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” John 10, 27-30 (NKJV)

The people mentioned in Matthew 7,22-23 will be those who will have known about Jesus but never known Jesus: because they never believed in Him. They will have had faith in His name but no faith to be known by Him. God is love. Jesus is love. But there would be an end to this present world, and those who will have rejected the person of Jesus Christ and His gift of life here on earth will find no place in heaven with Him.

But for you, child of God, who believe in the Lord Jesus, you are His sheep because you heard His voice and you have responded to it: He has known you because you have believed in Him and you now follow Him. And Jesus gives you eternal life, you shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch you out of His hand. No one is able to snatch you out of the Father’s hand. Jesus said that those who come to Him, He will never reject them. (John 6,37). You can be assured that Jesus will never leave you, never abandon you, never reject you, never cast you away.

This term 'knowing' is the same term that was used in the old when a man would have physical intimacy with his wife. It would be said that a man ‘knew’ his wife. Which is also of no coincidence since the institution of marriage is often a depiction of the relationship between Christ (Jesus) and the church (the believers) (Ephesians 5,22-33)

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2,24 NKJV)

“But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (1 Corinthians 6,17 NKJV)

The purpose of this knowing is Oneness. To know Jesus and to be known by Him.

Jesus is interested in knowing you: Jesus is interested in having an effect on you to the point where there won’t be a difference between you and Him.

But this whole situation is possible only if the two parties are willing to give themselves.

On Jesus' part, He is willing to be known, in fact He wants to reveal Himself to us. Not that He is hiding, but He wants to see if we truly want Him, if we truly desire HIM. Not only His name and what His name can do. He wants to see if we value Him. He wants to see our love; He wants to see our hearts.

May our deepest desire be for Jesus, for a more intimate relationship with Him.

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd." John 10, 14-16 NKJV

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17,3 (NKJV)

John 7,38