Our Relationship with the Son: Experiencing Jesus Beyond Sunday

By Dwayne Moore

We toss around the word “relationship” so casually these days that when we try to connect it with Jesus, we almost cheapen what it really means. Your relationship with Christ isn’t like your friendship with your college roommate or even your bond with your spouse, it’s in a category all its own.

I love how that old hymn puts it: “When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word, what a glory he spreads on our way.” But honestly? Even that beautiful poetry doesn’t come close to capturing the light, life, joy, peace, hope, and purpose that Jesus brings into our lives.

When I said yes to Jesus as a six-year-old kid, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. Looking back now, I can still picture that little wood-frame country church on a crisp October Sunday morning when my world got completely turned upside down, all because Jesus walked into my heart.

Here’s the thing: Jesus relates to us in so many incredible ways, and how you connect best with Him might be different from how I do. Let’s explore some of these powerful relationship dynamics that can transform how we experience Christ every single day.

Jesus as Our Savior: The Foundation of Everything

Picture John the Baptist having what seemed like a typical day down by the Jordan River, baptizing people in Bethany. Then he looks up and sees the most amazing sight, Jesus walking toward him in the distance. John had been waiting for this moment, maybe his whole life.

What would you say if you saw Jesus approaching? What would be your opening line to welcome the King of the universe?

John’s first words when he saw Jesus reveal everything: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Not “Hey, good to see you!” or “Welcome to the neighborhood.” John immediately recognized Jesus for who He came to be: our Savior.

The name Jesus literally means “The Lord saves.” Jesus himself said it plainly: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). Only Jesus could buy back what Satan had stolen from us. Only our Savior could open the door to God.

Think of it this way: Before we met Jesus, we were standing outside in the cold: lost, alone, and without hope. But when we put our faith in Him, we walked through the Door (John 10:9) to the inside, where there’s warmth, love, and fellowship with our Lord.

Take a moment right now to thank your Savior. Seriously, pause reading and spend a few minutes praising Jesus for taking the penalty for your sin and giving you eternal life.

Once Jesus became our Savior, imagine all the resources that suddenly became available to us! It’s like stepping into the most incredible store where everything is free: and we could spend a lifetime discovering all the benefits that come simply because Jesus is our Savior.

Jesus as Our Shepherd: Guidance and Protection

One of my favorite ways to connect with Jesus is seeing Him as my Shepherd. Read John 10:1-15 and notice all the benefits that come from being Jesus’ sheep and having Him as your Shepherd.

Then check out Psalm 23: one of the most beloved passages in Scripture. Look for all the benefits David mentions throughout this psalm.

Verse 4 of Psalm 23 gets me every single time: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Maybe it’s because I’ve stood beside the caskets of close friends and family members, peering into that valley David talks about. I’ve been corrected by His rod when I’ve wandered off the path, knowing that the Lord disciplines those He loves. I’ve been calmed by His staff of protection when life’s wolves were circling.

And honestly? My Shepherd has had to use that staff to pull this sheep out of more than a few ditches I’ve fallen into during moments of carelessness! Can you relate?

Jesus as Our Source: The Vine and the Branches

Another powerful picture is Jesus as the Vine and us as the branches (John 15). This analogy is so rich with meaning we could study it for months and still not exhaust everything it teaches us!

Because Jesus is our Vine and we’re grafted into Him, we have access to all the nutrients and provisions we’ll ever need to bear incredible fruit for His glory. When we stay connected to our Source, the life flows through us naturally.

Jesus as Our Sibling: Co-Heirs with Christ

Here’s a relationship aspect that doesn’t get talked about much, but it’s absolutely fascinating. In Matthew 12, while Jesus was teaching a crowd, His family came to see Him. Instead of stepping away to meet them, Jesus pointed to His disciples and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:49-50).

Romans 8:16-17 makes this even clearer: “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”

Think about this: We have the same heavenly Father as Jesus! That makes Jesus our Big Brother. All the resources and riches available to Jesus are also available to us. Let that sink in for a minute. Who needs the lottery when you’ve got the Lord?

Jesus as Our Friend: Closer Than a Brother

As amazing as having Jesus as our Big Brother is, He wants to take our relationship even deeper. He wants genuine friendship with us. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Jesus doesn’t want to be just another one of your buddies. He longs to be closer to you than you are with your own siblings.

What I love about Jesus’ friendship is that it’s not based on our social status or how “cool” we are. Jesus was “a friend to publicans and sinners” while He was on earth (Matthew 11:19). He’s the ultimate example of a friend who “loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17).

Our Friend will never leave us or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus is available 24/7 and actually wants to be with us all the time. How incredible is that?

Jesus as Our Superior: Lord of All

Here’s where it all comes together. In every aspect of our relationship with Jesus, He is to be our Lord. Think about it:

• As our Savior, He has earned the right to be our Master. He paid the ultimate price for us. Paul said, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
• As our Shepherd, Jesus directs us and decides where we go and what we do. Let’s face it: we sheep aren’t smart enough to make those decisions on our own!
• As our Source, Jesus the Vine decides what we need for life, health, and holiness. He is our “all in all.”
• As our Sibling, Jesus is God’s one and only Son, yet He’s the “firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29). In Hebrew culture, the firstborn son was the leader with the birthrights.
• As our Friend, Jesus is ready to help us no matter how much we fail Him. But He’ll only call us His friend as we obey Him. Jesus told His disciples, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14).

I’ll never forget an intense conversation I had with the Lord during my senior year of high school while driving in my car. I was upset with God about something He was telling me to do. I didn’t want to do it, didn’t see the need, and wanted to know why it was necessary.

Right in the middle of my rant, God’s still, small voice spoke clearly to my heart: “It’s none of your business.”

I wanted an explanation for what seemed like a rude comment! But God gently reminded me of 1 Corinthians 6: “You are not your own. You were bought at a price.”

During those volatile high school years, I needed Jesus to be my Shepherd, my Source, my Sibling, and my Friend. But first, I had to yield to Him as my Superior. And so must you.

Living This Out Daily

At Next Level Worship, we believe that authentic worship flows from understanding who Jesus is and how He relates to us. When we truly grasp these different facets of our relationship with Christ, our worship becomes more than a Sunday activity: it becomes a lifestyle.

Of all the ways we’ve explored today that we can relate to Jesus, which one resonates most with you? Which aspect of your relationship with Him do you find yourself gravitating toward most often?

Take some time to pray and ask the Lord to help you completely yield everything in your life to Him. Hold nothing back. If you can, physically bow before God right now to represent your recognition of Him as your Lord and Master.

Here’s your challenge: This week, intentionally connect with Jesus in one of these relationship roles each day. Monday, thank Him as your Savior. Tuesday, follow Him as your Shepherd. Wednesday, draw strength from Him as your Source. Keep going through the week.

Remember Romans 12:1: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God: this is your true and proper worship.”

When we understand our relationship with the Son in all these beautiful dimensions, everything changes. Our worship becomes authentic, our daily lives become purposeful, and our connection with Jesus grows deeper than we ever imagined possible.