Eternal Life is to know God and His Son Jesus whom He sent!
After assuring His disciples that in Him they would have peace, although in the world they would have tribulation, He reminded them that He had overcome the world. Jesus then began a prayer to His Father – “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.’” (John 17: 1-5)
Jesus had previously warned – “’Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.’” (Matthew 7: 13-14) Jesus next words were a warning against false prophets – “’Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.’” (Matthew 7: 15) As Jesus said, eternal life is to know the only true God and His Son Jesus whom He sent. The Bible clearly reveals who God is and who His Son is. John tells us – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1: 1-2) From John, we also learn about Jesus – “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1: 3-5)
How critical it is to know God, to know Him personally through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus was and is God revealed in flesh. He revealed God’s purpose and nature to us. He fulfilled the law that man could not fulfill. He paid the complete price for our complete redemption. He opened up the way for man to be brought into an eternal relationship with God. Jeremiah wrote 700 years before Jesus came – “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, ‘ says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9: 23-24)
Jesus is found all throughout the Bible. From Genesis 3: 15 where the gospel is introduced (“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”) all the way through Revelation where Jesus is revealed as King of Kings, Jesus is prophesied of, proclaimed, and historically documented. The Messianic Psalms (Psalms 2; 8; 16; 22; 23; 24; 40; 41; 45; 68; 69; 72; 89; 102; 110; and 118) reveal Jesus. Consider what some of these teach us – “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.” (Ps. 2: 7-8) “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens!” (Ps. 8: 1) A prophecy of Jesus and His mortal life and death – “For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They have pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” (Ps. 22: 16-18) “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.” (Ps. 24: 1-2) Speaking of Jesus – “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; my ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, ‘Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” (Ps. 40: 6-8) Another prophecy of Jesus – “They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Ps. 69: 21) “His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; all nations shall call Him blessed.” (Ps. 72: 17) Speaking of Jesus – “The Lord has sworn and will not relent, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Ps. 110: 4)
Jesus is Lord! He has overcome death and given us eternal life. Won’t you turn your heart and your life over to Him today and trust Him. He was despised and rejected when He came the first time, but He will come again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Another Messianic Psalm – “Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” (Ps. 118: 19-22)
