Tonight we looked at personal encounters with Jesus that underline the truth that being known by God can really shape our identity and change how we live.
We looked at Nathanael, the Samaritan woman, Mary Magdalene and Simon Peter, and saw how Jesus demonstrated a knowledge of them which clearly came from divine revelation and which led to their deepening knowledge of Him.
Nathanael (see John 1) was initially dubious that the Messiah could come from Nazareth, but Jesus’s knowledge of his character led him to see Jesus as the Messiah and to understand that to be fully known was proof of His divine identity. The Samaritan woman debated long and hard with this strange Jewish male intent on engaging her in conversation (John 4), but Jesus’s knowledge of her personal life led her to see that this one who told her everything she had ever done had to be the Messiah. Jesus’s knowledge of her gave her purpose as she sought others to meet Him too. His knowledge of her was more important to her identity than her ethnicity, gender or religious background.
Mary Magdalene recognised Jesus only when He spoke her name. From being afraid and tearful as to where His body was, she recognised Him as her Lord and this recognition meant inclusion now in God’s family. She too was filled with new purpose, going to tell the disciples she had seen the risen Lord. (John 20)
Simon Peter, that impulsive, fervent follower of Jesus, declared his undying support for Jesus at the Last Supper, but Jesus revealed the future that Satan desired to sift the disciples as wheat and that Simon would deny him three times before the cock crowed. Nonetheless, Jesus reminded Simon Peter that he had prayed for him that his faith would not fail. Peter ultimately would become that rock, being restored to faith after the resurrection, reminding us that God knows us through and through and still loves us, forgives us, prays for us and restores us. (Heb 7:25)
Being known by God gives us worth, significance and purpose – it’s not just head knowledge but our relationship with God fuels our everyday lives, giving us a secure identity which can weather all storms.
