In the Lord Jesus Christ dwells “all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). This means that the eternal Son of God, although He became fully human, was still omnipotent and omniscient.

To some extent though, while Jesus walked on earth, He chose to limit the independent use of His divine attributes and relied on the power of the Holy Spirit and prayer to His Heavenly Father to perform miracles. Throughout the Gospel record, we see time and time again that Jesus knew and did things that only God could know and do. This truth should bring great peace and assurance to our hearts; we can rest in the fact that Jesus knows and cares about every circumstance of our lives. He is the ever-present Friend Who supports us with His grace in every hour of need.

What are some of the realities that Jesus in His omniscience knew? Let’s consider some of those facts and how that knowledge directed His words and deeds on earth.

Jesus knew His mission on earth.

As a twelve-year-old boy, Jesus was fully conscious of His eternal purpose in coming to this earth. In Luke 2:48–49, Mary and Joseph finally found Jesus sitting in the Temple with the doctors of the Law, listening to them and asking them questions. When Mary asked, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing,” He answered His mother, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

In Psalm 40, a Messianic psalm, the declaration is made, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (verses 7–8). The writer of Hebrews applies this prophecy to Christ in Hebrews 10:5–10. Jesus delighted in the pleasure of His Father, and He testified of Himself, “I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29).

Jesus knew the motives of His enemies.

Jesus knew the plots and schemes of the Pharisees and chief priests against Him. A dramatic example of His omniscience is recorded in Luke’s Gospel. A man with a withered hand was present at a synagogue where Jesus was teaching. The scribes and Pharisees were watching Jesus to see whether or not He would heal the man on the Sabbath Day, looking for “an accusation against him” (Luke 6:7). According to Scripture, our Lord Jesus “knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth” (Luke 6:8). Demonstrating His power and His authority, Jesus healed the man in the presence of them all, asserting that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day.

On several other similar occasions, Jesus knew the evil machinations of His enemies and called them out on their wicked thoughts and plans. When His betrayer came to the Garden of Gethsemane where He had been praying, our Lord was not caught off guard. According to John 18:4, the moment that Jesus met those who had come for His arrest, He “therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?” Our omniscient Lord was and continues to be the Master of every situation.

Jesus knew His betrayer.

As early as the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus was already fully aware that Judas Iscariot would betray Him. In fact, according to the Gospel record, Jesus knew it from the very beginning. “For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him” (John 6:64). Jesus was not caught unaware in the Garden of Gethsemane. He fully knew the evil in the heart of Judas, and He fully knew that this betrayal would lead to His suffering, death, resurrection, and ultimate victory over sin and death.

Jesus knew when His hour had come.

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus said to His disciples and even to His own mother, “Mine hour is not yet come” (John 2:4). When the unbelievers and scoffers at Nazareth sought to throw Him over the precipice for presuming to announce Himself as the Messiah, He “passing through the midst of them went his way” (Luke 4:30). When an angry group of religious leaders tried to seize Jesus in Jerusalem, the Scripture states “but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come” (John 7:30).

Finally, on the evening of the Passover in the Upper Room, Jesus knew that His hour had indeed come. “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself” (John 13:3–4).

Jesus knew the destiny of His disciples.

Not only did Jesus fully know the evil plans of His enemies, but He also knew the destiny of His disciples. In the Upper Room before His betrayal and crucifixion, He foretold the victory of the Gospel, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the spread of the message of the Good News around the world.

His omniscience even extended to the particular details of where His disciples would go and what they would suffer. For example, one morning while on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus told Peter his destiny. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me” (John 21:18–19).

Have you ever considered that Jesus, our omniscient Lord, knows you in the same way? He knows your failures, past and future. He knows the sufferings that are in store. He knows your thoughts. He knows even the day of your death! An understanding of our Lord’s omniscience should give us a settled peace, knowing that our lives are in His hands. Aware of His omniscience and trusting in His love for us, we can confidently follow Him, even unto the end.