How Do We Come To Know About Jesus?

What other means do you use to get information about Jesus, besides hearing from the preacher? What sources do you use to find out more about Jesus? In what ways do you learn about Jesus? You may think you have reliable sources; our world today is filled with “information”; there is a considerable amount dedicated to Christianity, God and Jesus. But these sources can be questionable; they may have questionable motives.  We can learn and acquire knowledge about Jesus from four definitive sources:

1. The Bible
2. God The Father
3. Jesus Himself
4. The Holy Spirit

Let’s go through these for authoritative sources for learning about Jesus.

From the Bible

John 5:39-40 (NKJV) 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

The Bible is the authoritative and authentic Word of God. It is the single source for learning about and knowing Christ. The reason is simple: Jesus is mentioned throughout the books of the Bible. He is spoken of both in the Old & New Testament scriptures. He is the entire subject matter of the Bible. The New Testament, specifically, focuses mainly on Jesus, and provides in-depth revelation about Jesus. Therefore, the Bible is the basis and foundation for verifying everything we can know about Jesus. In Jesus’s teachings and preaching, He made several references to the Old Testament. He cited passages from different books in the Old Testament. This confirms that He affirms the authority and authenticity of the Bible. 

From God the Father

Matthew 3:16-17 (NKJV) 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 17:5-6 (NKJV) ”5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.

Matthew 16:15-17 (NKJV) 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

God, the Father, is supremely knowledgeable and qualified to tell us about his Son, Jesus. God the Father made a public declaration about who Jesus is to Him. He attested and validated Jesus as His beloved Son, and that He is well pleased with His Son. God the Father also announced who Jesus is, in the presence of the disciples of Jesus. He instructed the disciples to listen to His Son. In an account in Matthew 16:15-17, God the Father chose Peter, through him, to reveal who His Son is to the rest of the disciples. The revelation that Peter received about Jesus came directly from God the Father. The revelation about Jesus from God the Father was – Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the living God. God the Father communicated and confirmed Jesus publically to the masses, and privately to his followers. 

From the Holy Spirit

John 16:12-15 (NKJV) 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The conception of Jesus is from the Holy Spirit as a man – its walking, flesh and blood iteration. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is well knowledgeable and qualified to tell us about Jesus. The Spirit of God communicates to connect Jesus to the lives of Christians on a day-to-day basis. He speaks only about Jesus, and the things that matter to Jesus.  As the Bible states in 2 Peter 1:20-21 the human authors of Scripture were carried by the Spirit of God to communicate exactly what He desired. The Holy Spirit speaks the truth and the truth is Jesus.

Finally, from Jesus himself

Matthew 5:17-20 (NKJV) 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

John 4:25-26 (NKJV) 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” – I am the Messiah (Who is called Christ) 

Jesus recognized, acknowledged, confirmed, affirmed, and trusted in the Bible, the voice of his Father, and the revelation of the Holy Spirit concerning Him. Jesus used and referred to himself as the “I am” in several ways as God. God of the Old Testament revealed Himself as such to Moses.  

Here is the list of the “I Am” by Jesus (wherein Jesus reveals himself to people as the I am):

• “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51) as the source and sustainer of our spiritual and physical life.
• “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) as the light of men to this dark world.
• “I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9) as the protector of those who believe in him from predators.  
• “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) as the one who can raise the dead and give life to the dead. 
• “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14) as the great and good leader who takes care of those who believe in Him.
• “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) as the way to God (heaven) the only truth about God and life and the source of life here and after. 
• “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5) as the one through power flows in us to bear fruits that honour His Father.

The Bible communicates Jesus for us to convey (pass on, provide the information, the channel of knowledge). The Holy Spirit communicates Jesus for us to comprehend (understand and make meaning of Jesus). The Father communicates Jesus to confirm (verify and validate) who Jesus is. You can have the Bible and still don’t encounter Jesus if you don’t believe in Jesus. Simply knowing about or being aware of Jesus is not enough; but believing in Him completes it. Knowing without believing does not change anything.