Who knows you? Like truly, deeply, vulnerably knows you? Maybe it’s your spouse, your best friend, a parent, or a sibling. Or maybe, you realize that you don’t have anyone in your life who knows you like this.
All humans have a longing to be known. We might not ever be known widely—by hundreds or even thousands—but we all want to be known deeply. We want to have at least one person in our life who knows us intimately, and whom we also know intimately.
What if I told you that you could know Jesus like this? What if I told you that you could experience deep, intimate, delighting love and relationship with Jesus Christ? Whether you have been a Christian for decades or for only a short amount of time, you are invited into the never-disappointing, always-satisfying love and intimacy of Christ.
This happens when we abide in Jesus—so let’s discover what it means to abide in Christ and how we can truly know Jesus in our daily lives.
What does it mean to abide in Jesus?
“Abiding in Christ,” is a phrase that is used in Jesus’s teaching to His disciples in John 15. In John 15:4–5, Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
There is a two-fold reality to the meaning of the word “abide.” It is an already-existing identity and a continuous pursuit. You are already abiding in Jesus Christ if you have received His salvation, and you continue to abide in Jesus Christ by pursuing obedience and deeper relationship with Him.
First, abiding is our identity. Jesus calls us His branches. In other places in the Bible, we are called branches that have been “grafted” into the tree of Jesus Christ (Romans 11:16). This is our identity. We are saved in Jesus Christ; we are united to Jesus Christ. We are one with Him, like branches on a tree. This is the work of Jesus Christ’s salvation, and He has given us this incredible identity through faith alone.
Second, abiding is also an action. Branches are commanded to do something in these verses. They are commanded to abide in order that they bear fruit. But, what does “abiding” even mean? Abiding in Christ means delighting in Jesus through obedience to Him. It means deepening your relationship with Christ through obeying His commands, spending time in His Word, and speaking to Him in prayer. Abiding is what we do in order to pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Why abiding in Jesus matters
Jesus is not just a divine being in the sky. He is not just a figure in a painting. He is not just a character in a book. He is a Person, and He is the closest companion you will ever have. He is the perfect Love of your life. When you feel like everyone misunderstands you, Jesus is with you. When you feel completely isolated, Jesus is with you. When you feel lost with nowhere else to go, Jesus is with you.
He knows you, and you can know Him. You can delight in Him—even when the circumstances of your life are difficult. You can have a deep relationship with Him—even when your earthly relationships are falling apart. You can abide in Him.
How to abide in Jesus daily
There are three practical ways that Christians can pursue an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ in their daily lives.
First, spend time with Him in Scripture. God has given us everything we need to know about Him through His Word. Take time to learn about Him through the Bible. Read all about His life and the hundreds of stories in the Bible that all point to Him. (If you want to learn more about Jesus in the Bible, check out our popular study, Christ in All of Scripture!)
Second, spend time with Him in prayer. You can talk to Him at any time, anywhere. Whether it is in the middle of a sleepless night, on your morning commute, or rocking a crying baby, you can talk to Jesus. Bring your requests to Him, praise Him for His great love and mercy, worship Him for His holiness, or simply sit in His presence. (If you want to learn more about prayer, check out our Bible study, Pray: Cultivating a Passionate Practice of Prayer.)
Third, obey His commands. Scripture is full of commands that help us abide in Christ and pursue holiness. These commandments are not useless or irrelevant to our lives. All that Christ has commanded us helps us pursue a deeper, more knowing and intimate relationship with Him. It helps us love Him even more and helps us feel His presence in our lives.
Let’s return to our question at the very beginning: Who knows you? The Spirit of Jesus Christ lives and dwells in your heart. He is with you every day, every night, and every moment in between. He knows you, and you can know Him.
Abide in the True Vine, Jesus Christ. Discover the rich and never-disappointing love of His presence in your life. Delight in the knowledge and truth of His gospel. Spend time with Him through Scripture and prayer. And obey His commands.
Every single day, you can know Jesus more in your life. You can find a never-failing, always-satisfying, and ever-present companion in Him.
