The Lord Who Knows the Heart

He Knew What Was in Man

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Peter’s words. By the lake Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, You know all things” (John 21:17). Peter had seen for himself that this was true.

He knew them all. From the start of His work, John says, Jesus knew what was in every person, and no one had to tell Him (John 2:24-25).

Nathanael. When Philip brought his friend Nathanael, “Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’” (John 1:47). Deceit means lying and tricking.

How do You know me? “Nathanael said to Him, ‘How do You know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you’” (John 1:48).

Seen before he came. Jesus saw Nathanael before anyone told Nathanael about Jesus. Jesus knew him before they ever met.

Kind eyes. When Jesus saw Nathanael, He did not say something unkind. He spoke well of the honest heart He saw.

Nathanael believed. He said, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49). Rabbi means teacher.

The disciples saw it too. On the night before the cross, the disciples said, “Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You” (John 16:30).

Before they asked. Jesus knew their questions before they asked them. He knows what is in our hearts too.

Nathanael’s question. Nathanael asked, “How do You know me?” (John 1:48). Everyone who meets Jesus finds out that He knew them first.

He sees you too. Jesus sees you when you think no one is watching: at home, at school and at night when you go to sleep. And He loves what He made.

Only the beginning. Jesus told Nathanael, “You will see greater things than these” (John 1:50). Being known by Jesus was only the start of following Him.

Knower of hearts. Later Peter and the other believers prayed together and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all” (Acts 1:24).

Nothing hidden. The Bible says, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight” (Hebrews 4:13).

Only God. Only God can know every heart. When Jesus knew Nathanael and Peter so completely, He was showing who He is. Jesus is God the Son.

Good news. Jesus knows every sin we have ever done, and He came to die for those sins. Then He rose again. He knows us completely, and He loves us completely.

What this means for you. You never have to pretend with Jesus, because He already knows. Talk to Him honestly about everything, and trust Him with your heart.

Not a guess. When Peter said, “Lord, You know all things” (John 21:17), he was not guessing. He had watched Jesus read hearts again and again.

From the start. John says early on that Jesus knew all people and needed no one to tell Him what was in a person (John 2:24-25).

An Israelite indeed. “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” (John 1:47). Jesus described Nathanael’s heart before Nathanael said a word.

Under the fig tree. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you” (John 1:48). Jesus knew where Nathanael had been before anyone told Him.

Greater things. “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these” (John 1:50).

The first step. Nathanael’s faith began with being known. He answered, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49).

Known in Samaria. A Samaritan woman told her town that Jesus had told her all she ever did (John 4:29). Being fully known did not drive her away. It sent her back to her town to tell others.

Sure of it. “Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God” (John 16:30). His knowledge pointed the disciples to where He came from.

Kardiognostes. When the believers prayed in Acts 1:24, they said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all.” “Who know the hearts” is one Greek word, kardiognostes (say: kar-dee-og-NOHS-tays), heart-knower. Peter was there (Acts 1:15).

Open before Him. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

Who He is. Only God knows every heart. The Jesus who read Nathanael and Peter was showing that He is God the Son.

Not to shame. Jesus did not use His knowledge to show off or to shame people. He used it to draw them to Himself, as He did with Nathanael.

Known and rescued. The One who knows what is in man went to the cross for what is in man, and He rose again. His knowledge of our sin did not keep Him from dying for it.

For you. If Jesus knows everything, you can stop hiding. Bring Him your real thoughts and your real sins, and trust the heart-knower who loves you.

You Know That I Love You

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Known ahead of time. At the supper Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times. Jesus knew it before it happened.

Still His friends. Jesus knew Peter would fail Him. That same night He told His disciples, “I have called you friends” (John 15:15).

Chosen. He also said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit” (John 15:16).

He knew whom He chose. Jesus did not choose Peter by mistake. He knew exactly who Peter was, weak places and all, and He chose him anyway.

Appointed. Appointed means given a job. Jesus chose His disciples to go and bear fruit. That means to live and work in a way that brings good things for God.

By the lake. After Peter’s denials and after the cross, the risen Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love Me?” Then “Peter was grieved” (John 21:17).

Peter’s answer. “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You” (21:17). The One who had chosen him knew him best.

Jesus knew the love too. Jesus knew Peter’s sins. He also knew the love for Him that was really in Peter’s heart.

Fruit again. Then Jesus said, “Feed My sheep” (21:17). The man He had chosen to bear fruit was given his work again.

Chosen to go. Jesus chose Peter not only to stay close to Him but to go and care for others. “Feed My sheep” was part of the fruit He had in mind.

He loved first. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Peter’s love for Jesus came from Jesus’ love for Peter.

The cross. Jesus loved Peter enough to die for his sins, even the sin of denying Him. Then He rose again and came to bring Peter back.

Not caught, but known. Being known by Jesus is not like being caught by a teacher. It is like being understood by the One who loves you most.

What this means for you. Jesus knows you better than anyone, and He chose to love you. When you fail, come to Him and tell Him the truth. Then get up and do the work He gives you.

Foretold. At the supper Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times. The failure was known before it happened.

Chosen anyway. On that same night He said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:16).

Friends. That night He also said, “but I have called you friends” (John 15:15). He called them friends while knowing that they would all leave Him that night (John 16:32).

Appointed. To be appointed is to be set in place for a task. Jesus chose men He knew completely and gave them a task that would last.

Known when chosen. When Jesus chose Peter, He already knew Peter’s weakness. The denial did not change His choice.

Fruit that remains. Jesus wanted fruit that would remain. A fall in the courtyard would not be the last word on Peter’s life.

The appeal. “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You” (John 21:17). Peter appealed to the Lord who had chosen him in full knowledge.

Known love. Jesus’ knowledge goes all the way down. He saw the sin, and He also saw the real love that was still in Peter’s heart.

Not caught, but known. Being known by Jesus is not like being caught. It is like being understood by the One who loves you most.

His love first. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The love Peter confessed answered a love that had already gone to the cross for him.

The task returns. “Feed My sheep” (21:17). The fruit Jesus appointed Peter to bear began again by the lake.

Love that works. Jesus did not ask Peter to prove his love with strong feelings. He asked him to show it by feeding the flock.

The gospel in it. Jesus died for sins He knew in full, and He rose to restore the people who did them. Nothing you confess to Him will be news to Him.

For you. When guilt tells you that you are disqualified, answer the way Peter did. Point to what Jesus knows and to what He has done, and take up the work He gives you.

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Complete all sections to finish!

Read each section and answer the questions correctly.