DO YOU RECOGNIZE JESUS?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding
Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they
were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
(Matthew 27:54)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever been in a group setting where you didn’t
know anyone? A business meeting or seminar, or possibly
a new members class at church. It is quite different when
you are in a group where you recognize people, isn’t it?
You feel more comfortable and you have things in common
with those who are there.

Doesn’t it stand to reason that if we are children of God,
then we should have the same comfortable feeling with
His Son? We recognize Him as God’s Son and we also
recognize His characteristics. We recognize His attitudes,
His desires, His deity, His gentleness, His love, His priorities,
His faithfulness, His dedication, His kindness, His obedience,
His concern for those who are lost, etc.

However there are those who do not know Him and therefore
do not recognize Him. The world didn’t recognize Jesus.
    “He was in the world, and though the world was
      made through him, the world did not recognize him.”
      (John 1:10)

Why didn’t they recognize Him? Because they had a worldly
mindset and were focused on worldly things. In contrast, even
the impure spirits recognized Him.
    Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down
    before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”
    (Mark 3:11)

Why did they recognize Him and the ‘worldly’ did not?
Although the impure spirits didn’t fellowship with Jesus,
they knew the power He was given to deal with the spirits
opposed to God.

On the first Palm Sunday, Jesus pointed out that the
people did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them.
    “They will dash you to the ground, you and the
      children within your walls. They will not leave
      one stone on another, because you did not recognize
      the time of God’s coming to you.”
      (Luke 19:44)

Pilate didn’t recognize Him as God’s Son
and asked questions about who He was.
    “So Pilate asked Jesus,
    “Are you the king of the Jews?”
    (Luke 23:3)

Herod was curious about Jesus,
but did not recognize Him for who He was.
    When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased,
    because for a long time he had been wanting to
    see him. From what he had heard about him, he
    hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort.
    (Luke 23:8)
Apparently Herod wanted to see some kind of miracle
(like wanting to see something like a magic trick).

When it came time for Jesus to sacrifice Himself for our sins,
we read about a centurion who more than likely had seen many
crucifixions, but he realized that this one was different. It was an
amazing reaction from someone who was probably desensitized to
witnessing executions.
    The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised
    God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”
    (Luke 23:47)

The centurion’s words contained a significant testimony.
He recognized who Jesus truly was – not just a man, but
also the Son of God.

ACTION:
The blessing of eternal life comes to those who recognize Jesus
and receive Him as Lord. Do you recognize Jesus as just a man,
an interesting person of history, or as your Savior? If you know
Him, thank Him for your salvation that He made possible. If you
do not know Him then you, like the centurion, can confess Him
as Lord!
    “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter
      the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the
      will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to
      me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
      your name and in your name drive out demons and in
      your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell
      them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you
      evildoers!’
      (Matthew 7:21-23)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus,
to be my Lord and Savior. Thank You for teaching me to
know, to really know Him, and through salvation, for Him
to know me as well. Jesus forgive me for the times I have
failed to act as though I know You. Teach me to change my
life so I will know You more and that others will know that
I not only know You, but that I love You as my Savior”

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