John 14:9 Jesus says, “How long have I been with you and yet you have not known me?”

I read that Monday morning, and immediately mindful then of the end of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:20 I am with you always to the end of the age”

I am guilty too often of just wanting information and directions and Jesus says, “I am with you… come with me… watch me… follow me.“ This verse in John 14 is part of a larger discussion. Jesus is about to die, and then after rising from the dead, he will ascend to the Father and send The Holy Spirit. And so here he says, “I go to prepare a place for you… you know the way…” and Thomas says, “we don’t know where… how can we know the way?” And Philip says, “Show us the Father… that’s enough” and Jesus’ response to both of these confused followers is, “Look at ME” – “I AM the Way, I AM the Truth, I AM the Life… If you have seen ME, you have SEEN the Father… Believe in ME.“ 

Certainly Jesus gives us instruction and direction but generally and truly he is always with us. So he says, “Follow ME… Go with me… take my hand… Look… and Believe… Do what I am doing.” 

v12 the one who believes will do the works that I do… even greater things than these

v15 if you love me you will keep my commands

v16 I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever

v21 The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me… loved by the Father… I will reveal myself to him.

Do you see the correlation?  JESUS is the answer we seek. He is the power, he is the direction, he is reality. We follow him, we know him, we receive him, and we find, way, truth, life, revelation.

And so, the Lynchpin is Love and Faith. Henry Blackaby said we don’t have obedience issues, we have LOVE issues. I would then add that we have also faith issues then. 

• What are you hearing God say as you enter this new year?
• Are you just looking for Direction or God’s Presence? Go WITH Him
• Knowledge comes as we see HE is what we seek
• Take some time to stop, look, listen, take his hand, and go with Jesus

As we enter a new year, I hear Jesus – who I have known as Savior for 54 years – say, “how long have I been with you… do you know me?” And I would honestly answer, “yes Lord, I know you “; and He would respond, “I know you do – but do you love me, do you believe in me – in ACTION not just in Knowledge?”