They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
As Jesus continues his prayer to the Father on the night before he is taken prisoner, he says something remarkable. The disciples, who never seem to quite figure out what is going on, actually understood that Jesus came from the Father. More than that, they knew this with certainty.
There is a distinction here that is important. People believe in a lot of things that they cannot know for a certainty. Knowledge and belief are two different things. Knowledge suggests that something has been experienced personally. More than experience, knowledge is based on more than a “one-off” experience. It must be repeatable. One other requirement is multiplicity. Knowledge can be personal, but for something to be considered true the knowledge must be experienced by others.
Belief is different. With knowledge, we accept something is true because we can see that it is true. With belief, we accept something is true without having seen that it is true.
The disciples believed that Jesus is the Son of God. Three of them had heard God affirm that Jesus is the Son of God on the mount of transfiguration. They all heard the thunderous voice in John 12: 28. Yet they had not seen the Father. Still, the evidence of Jesus divinity was overwhelming. The way he talked, the miracles he did, the people he healed all attested to his divine nature. Because of these things, all eleven disciples “knew with certainty” that Jesus was the Son of God. And they believed that God sent him.
Food for thought: Imagine for a moment that there is a Know-O- Meter in your mind that measure the level of certainty you have in any given thing. How convinced are you that Jesus is the Son of God?
I do think the evidence is overwhelming. I think we can know beyond a reasonable doubt that the Bible is accurate and true, and that Jesus rose from the dead and that He is Lord. It still takes a faith step, but it is not a blind faith. It is a reasonable faith.
Thanks Rich,
I know that you are exceptionally knowledgeable on this point. I hope that all of us continue to increase in certainty in our faith.
Matthew 16:15-17, Jesus tells Peter, his faith, knowing Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God has come from God.
John 5:6, John 15:26, John 16:13, 1 Corinthians 2:12-14, 1 John 2:27,
1 John 5:6, as well as other passages confirm this fact.
Then we have the gift of the Spirit and fruit of the Spirit. With these passages in mind, I have come to believe we all receive a saving faith which has led us to the foot of the cross and transformed each of us into believers.
There is a second phase for Christians which the Bible identifies as sanctification, and not all Christians choose to walk this path which is Initiated by the Holy Spirit, who continues to instruct and form Christians for the mission God has predestined for each of us.
The bottom line is I believe ( with the exception of men like John the Baptist ) all mankind is like Peter denying Christ before the cock crowed. The Holy Spirit came to convict, save, encourage and provide growth to all who will accept.
We cannot take credit for anything. Praise God for His infinite Mercy and Grace.