Mike Focht 10/11/2024
We don’t get to see Jesus in a human frame like the disciples. Still, that didn’t hinder Peter when he said, Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. Peter never thought that our inability to see Jesus as he once did kept us from believing in, rejoicing in, knowing, or following Christ.
It was a unique privilege to follow Jesus Christ during His short ministry on the face of the earth. I do not dispute that for a moment. Even so, Jesus Christ knew the majority of His disciples through history would not have that privilege. He also knew that walking with Him is much greater than simply seeing with our physical eyes. Many who watched Jesus with their physical eyesight still walked away in direct rebellion and unbelief.
Our walk with Christ—though not directed by physical sight—is as real as Peter’s. And Peter knew this. He walked with Christ by sight and when Christ could no longer be seen. It was the same Jesus all the way through. What Peter knew by experience, we need to learn by our own personal experience. The Jesus we will one day soon see face to face in eternity should be known and followed by us here and now. He is no stranger. We know Him.
Think of personal discipleship in the context of what those original disciples learned by sight and later learned without sight.
Didn’t we have an experience with Christ where we realized we were sinful and He was holy?
Didn’t we have a call to leave all and follow Him?
Didn’t we have moments of wonder at His powering working in and around our lives?
Didn’t our hearts burn as we heard His authoritative teaching?
Haven’t we seen Him and wondered what type of Man this was?
Haven’t we experienced His miracles in our lives and the lives of others?
Haven’t we been confused, rebuked, and corrected by His revelations?
Haven’t we had times of refreshing and joy in His presence?
Haven’t we had to join in His sufferings and reproach?
Haven’t we had our hearts lifted by His promises?
Hasn’t the work of Christ on the cross and in resurrection shocked and blessed us?
Hasn’t He taken the lead to wash our feet and serve us?
Hasn’t He sent us on a mission in His name with the promise of His presence?
Haven’t we also received the promise of the Holy Spirit?
We, too, like Peter before us, walk with Jesus. We, too, know Him. We still know and love this Jesus that we don’t see with our eyes in the physical. He is no stranger to us. The same Jesus that walked with those early disciples walks with all disciples still. Peter knew that. That was why he was confident to say, Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.