Are not expressed as well in English as they are in many other langauges. As a Spanish-speaker, I have two words to choose from (saber or conocer), as opposed to the simple one (to know) in English. In Spanish I can say a lot more with one little word, whereas in English I’d have to explain myself with additional words if I really wanted to be clearly understood.
Saber is about knowing facts, data, information. This is head knowledge.
Conocer is about knowing something or someone intimately, relationally, experientially. This is heart knowledge.
In John 7, Jesus’ detractors try to make an argument against him based on saber: “But we know [information about] where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know [information about] where he is from.” (v.28) All head knowledge. The math doesn’t add up for them, so they can’t accept Jesus.
Jesus then comes back with a conocer rebuttal: “He who sent me is true. You do not know him [relationally], but I know him [relationally] because I am from him and he sent me.” (v.28-29) All heart knowledge. Jesus is pointing out that his detractors have missed the boat because they are too stuck in their heads and have missed God with their hearts.
Many people today—even very committed Christians—miss Jesus for a lack of sufficient intimate, relational, and experiential knowledge of him. Beware of being so stuck in your head that you miss God with your heart.
