“Known Yet Unknown

 “Known Yet Unknown”

 

“Why are you frightened?” He asked.  “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at My hands.  Look at My feet.  You can see that it’s REALLY Me. Touch Me and MAKE SURE that I am NOT a GHOST, because GHOSTS don’t have bodies, as you SEE that I do. As He spoke, He showed them His hands and His feet.  Luke 24:38-40

 

This encounter took place after the RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ, just before His ASCENSION.  The first thing I want us to see is two of His followers from Emmaus, which is seven miles from Jerusalem. They were overwhelmed with the events that had taken place with the brutality of the CRUCIFIXION of JESUS. They were very distraught and hopeless. The body of JESUS was missing!!

And as they were walking back to Emmaus talking about all the horrible things that happened. Jesus, himself, in the flesh, came and began walking with them, but they didn’t RECOGNIZE Him, because God kept them FROM RECOGNIZING Him And their UNBELIEF kept them from RECOGNIZING HIM. Here is a prime example of being KNOWN, BUT UNKNOWN. 

They were FOLLOWERS of JESUS, so they KNEW Him as a FRIEND, perhaps, they saw Him do a miracle or two.  And He was a COMPASSIONATE, CARING person, with some SPECIAL abilities.  However, their concept of Him, was that He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and He was a MIGHTY teacher in the Eyes of God and ALL the People. They had HOPED that He was the MESSIAH who had come to RESCUE Israel from the Romans

But they weren’t the ONLY ONES to BELIEVE that SAME scenario.  His own disciples had their DOUBTS, they were locked into the upper room, when Jesus APPEARED to them. They were STARTLED and AFRAID thinking they were seeing a GHOST.  Jesus spoke to them:   “WHY are you FRIGHTENED? WHY are your HEARTS filled with DOUBT?  Look at my HANDS. Look at my FEET.  TOUCH ME and make sure that I am NOT a GHOST, because ghosts don’t have bodies, and I do. As He spoke, He showed them His hands and feet.

However, they STOOD in DISBELIEF!!  And again, we see a prime example of being KNOWN BUT UNKNOWN.  Many people today, are exactly like the disciples.  They think that to KNOW ABOUT JESUS gives them a RELATIONSHIP with Him and GOD, but that is NOT what will give you a RELATIONSHIP because of YOUR UNBELIEF.

To have a TRUE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with JESUS and GOD, you MUST BECOME a CHILD OF the LIVING GOD. And to do that YOU MUST be CONVICTED of your SINS, and you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who GAVE HIS LIFE to SAVE YOUR SOUL from an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY TO ESCAPE once you are there. You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that JESUS DIED for YOUR SINS and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for YOU before GOD.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and DON’T make Him KNOWN but UNKNOWN in your LIFE.  Do ALL the ABOVE, NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!