Episode Overview

Podcast: The Wake-Up Call
Episode: It's Your Turn
Host: J.D. Walt (with guest David Walt)
Date: February 26, 2026

Today's episode centers on the transformative power of truly knowing Jesus—not just knowing about Him. J.D. Walt encourages listeners to answer Jesus’ personal question: “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?” Through scripture, reflection, and song, the hosts invite the community to move beyond information and toward personal revelation and relationship with Jesus.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Prayer and Consecration

[00:00 – 02:00]

• J.D. Walt opens with a prayer of personal consecration, inviting listeners to focus their hearts and minds on Jesus at the start of the day.
• “Wake up sleeper. Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you. Jesus, I belong to you. I lift up my heart to you.'' — J.D. Walt [00:24]
• Stresses the importance of belonging mutually—Jesus to us, and us to Jesus—as a foundation for the day.

2. Main Reflection: “It’s Your Turn”

[02:00 – 09:00]

• J.D. reflects on the daily theme: taking active steps in our relationship with Jesus.
  • Uses the imagery of a chessboard: “You're sitting at the chessboard...it's your turn. I think Jesus is saying that to us.” [02:41]
• Focuses on Matthew 16:16: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
• The pivotal question Jesus asks: “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?”
  • J.D. emphasizes the personal and ongoing nature of this question.
• Key distinction: knowing about Jesus vs. truly knowing Him.
  • “The goal is not to amass knowledge about something. The goal is to grow in knowing someone, namely Jesus.” [04:04]
• J.D. encourages personal, honest responses—Jesus desires a ‘demonstration of faith’ rather than a recitation of doctrine.
  • “He's looking for a demonstration of faith. He wants to know where we are in our relationship.” [05:26]

3. Peter’s Example: Information vs. Revelation

[06:30 – 08:30]

• Retells Peter’s confession (Matthew 16): Peter’s answer comes from “revelation,” not head knowledge.
• Notable quote:
  • “Peter had given Jesus not an affirmation of the information of faith, but an activation of the revelation of faith itself.” [07:40]
• Encourages listeners to insert their name into Jesus’ question for a personal encounter (“But what about you, Mary? Tom? Julie? Who do you say that I am?”) [08:45]

4. A Personal Answer: Demonstrating Faith

[09:00 – 11:00]

• J.D. offers a raw, vulnerable answer to Jesus’ question, modeling how listeners might respond personally:
  • “You are the one who never leaves. You’re my light and my life. You are my savior and my Lord. You are my all in all...You’re my reason. Jesus, you are my friend...You’re my everything.” [10:02]
• Prayer is described as a place for honesty—not pretending, but showing up “as you are.”

5. On Honest Dialogue with Jesus

[11:00 – 13:30]

• Encourages journaling as a spiritual practice:
  • “How do you respond to Jesus' question: But what about you? Who do you say that I am?” [11:57]
• Stresses honesty: Jesus meets the real you, not the ‘you’ you think you should be.
  • “Prayer isn't sort of posing for who we think we ought to be...Jesus cannot deal with the you that you think you ought to be. He can only deal with the you that you really are.” [12:31]
• A special word for those deconstructing faith or wrestling with doubt:
  • “You can't deconstruct Jesus...He’s indestructible. He went to the cross. That’s what we tried to do, to destroy him. He came back from the dead...Let’s rebuild now today, with me. With you.” [13:53]

6. Waking Up to the Real Jesus

[13:30 – 15:00]

• Recap: The invitation is to “wake up to the real Jesus,” because that’s where the ‘real you’ emerges.
  • “That’s where the real you and the real me comes forth when we meet and wake up to...the real Jesus.” [14:36]

7. Hymn & Reflection: “Knowing You”

[15:08 – 20:17]

• J.D. welcomes his father, David Walt, for a special segment featuring the hymn “Knowing You” by Graham Kendrick (#125 in Seedbed’s hymnal).
  • The hymn anchors the day’s message: profound desire to know Jesus, not just know about Him.
• Lyrics underscore personal relationship:
  • “Knowing you, Jesus, knowing you—there is no greater thing. You're my all, you're the best, you're my joy, my righteousness. And I love you, Lord.” [Chorus, 18:15]
• J.D. connects the hymn’s message to Paul’s words in Philippians 3—wanting to “know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.” [20:17]

8. Encouragement for the Day: Witness to Others

[20:17 – 21:41]

• Closing encouragement: As we wake up to Jesus, He works through us to wake others up.
  • “If you're awake to Jesus, he's waking others up through you. It's just how he works. He's coming through your eyes. He's coming through your smile. He's coming through your words. He's coming through your posture.” [20:35]
• Sends listeners out as witnesses and encouragers in the world.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Knowing Jesus:
  • “The goal is not to amass knowledge about something. The goal is to grow in knowing someone, namely Jesus.” — J.D. Walt [04:04]
• On Deconstruction:
  • “You can deconstruct a bad understanding of him...but you can’t deconstruct him. He’s indestructible, guys. He went to the cross...Came back from the dead. Oh my gosh. He is ascended...He’s right here right now.” — J.D. Walt [13:53]
• On Personal Relationship:
  • “Prayer isn't sort of posing for who we think we ought to be...Jesus cannot deal with the you that you think you ought to be. He can only deal with the you that you really are.” — J.D. Walt [12:31]
• From the Hymn:
  • “Knowing you, Jesus, knowing you—there is no greater thing. You're my all, you're the best, you're my joy, my righteousness. And I love you, Lord.” — Graham Kendrick, sung by David Walt [18:15]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 — Opening prayer and consecration
• 02:41 — Illustration: “It’s your turn” (spiritual chessboard analogy)
• 04:04 — Main insight: Knowing about vs. knowing Jesus
• 05:26 — Jesus seeks the demonstration, not just affirmation of faith
• 07:40 — “Activation of the revelation of faith itself”
• 08:45 — Personalized invitation: “Who do you say that I am?”
• 10:02 — J.D.’s personal answer to Jesus’ question
• 11:57 — Journal prompt: Responding to Jesus' question
• 12:31 — The call to honesty in prayer and spirituality
• 13:53 — Response to deconstructing faith
• 15:08 — Introduction of David Walt; singing “Knowing You”
• 18:15 — Chorus of “Knowing You”
• 20:17 — Reflection on Philippians 3 and song meaning
• 20:35 — Encouragement: Being a witness for Christ
• 21:41 — Episode closing

Flow & Tone

• The episode combines heartfelt reflection, scriptural grounding, and familial warmth. J.D.’s voice is earnest and invitational, urging honest spiritual engagement. The musical segment with his father enhances the communal, multi-generational feel. Listeners are drawn in not as spectators, but as participants invited to “wake up” and respond personally to Jesus’ ongoing question.

Suggested Actions for Listeners

• Take time today to journal a direct answer to Jesus’ question: “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?”
• Embrace honesty in prayer—not posing, but presenting your honest self to God.
• **Let knowing Jesus—not just knowing about Him—be the aim of your faith journey.
• Carry Jesus with you into your day: through your words, actions, and presence—bring awakening to others.

This episode is a compassionate, gentle summons to authenticity, deep reality in Christ, and joy in truly knowing Him.