Why Christians Must Keep Seeking Jesus

Posted on Aug 06, 2020 Topic : Inspirational/Devotional, Men's Christian Living, Women's Christian Living
Posted by : Randy Alcorn

The name Jesus comes from the transliteration of the Greek IESOUS (pronounced ee‑ay‑soos; there is no J in Greek) from the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means “Yahweh saves.” No matter how it is spelled or pronounced—whether Yeshua, Yēsū, Jesus, or something else—we are told that his name is above all names, and that one day every knee in the universe will bow to him (Philippians 2:9‑10).

Christ is not his last name, but rather a title that means “anointed one,” or “Messiah.” Jesus has many other names and titles, and each reveals something important about him: He is Immanuel, “God with us.” He is our Savior, Redeemer, Creator, King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is the second person of the triune God, the Son of God and Son of Man, our Messiah, Judge, Advocate, High Priest, Mediator, Brother, and—incredibly—he calls himself our Friend! He is the Lamb of God, the Light of the World, our Good Shepherd, our Bridegroom, and our example. He is the only means of access to the Father and to Heaven, his dwelling place. He is the Bread of Life, the Living Water, the Rest‑Giver, Word of God, and Prince of Peace.

We could spend eternity contemplating the meaning and implications and depths of these names and titles, and indeed we will! Wherever we go and whatever we do as resurrected beings walking on God’s resurrected New Earth, we will never lose sight of Jesus. We will see the very face of God (Revelation 22:4). The conversations we have with brothers and sisters in Christ, the journeys and adventures we undertake, and the missions the Lord Jesus sends us on will all be centered on our desire to know and glorify and serve him.

But we don’t have to wait until then to focus on knowing Jesus. Each moment we spend walking with him allows us to have a stronger relationship with him today. I thank God that today I don’t just know and love Jesus like I used to; I know and love him more. That is to his credit, and I’m deeply grateful. He’s what makes life exciting and worthwhile.

One of many startling statements about Jesus is this: “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (John 1:18 ESV). Jesus is God and is at the Father’s side, and he has come to make God known to us. Provided what we learn is true, the more we learn about Jesus, the more we know about the God that no one has seen, but in another sense can be truly seen in Jesus. He is the explanation and illustration of who God really is.

There is much to know about Jesus, but Scripture puts particular stress on grasping his love for us: “[I pray] that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17‑19 ESV).

As the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” puts so beautifully, Jesus is our “best thought, by day or by night.” May your worship be full and deep as you seek to better understand the names and titles of our Savior!