To Know Christ

Reading : Philiphians 3
Philipians 3:10-11 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul here put a personal relationship with Jesus Christ at the very center of the Christian’s life. “He disowns his own righteousness as eagerly as other men disown their sins, and he highly esteems the righteousness which Christ has wrought out for us, which becomes ours by faith.” (Spurgeon). He joyfully accepted the loss of all other things for the greatness of this personal relationship. The foundation for his spiritual life was in what Jesus had done for him and not in what he had done, was doing, or would do for Jesus in the future.

“I want to know Christ ” This was the simple plea of Paul’s heart. Paul wanted Jesus, not self. According to Paul to know Jesus is not the same as knowing His historical life; it is not the same as knowing correct doctrines regarding Jesus; it is not the same as knowing His moral example, and it is not the same as knowing His great work on our behalf.

We can say that we know someone because we recognize them; because we can distinguish what is different about them compared to other people.
We can say that we know someone because we are acquainted with what they do; we know the baker because we get our bread from him.
We can say that we know someone because we actually converse with them; we are on speaking terms with that person.
We can say that we know someone because we spend time in their house and with their family.
We can say that we know someone because we have committed our life to them and live with them every day, sharing every circumstance as in a marriage.
Yet beyond all this, there is a way of know Jesus Christ that includes all of these yet goes beyond them.

Knowing Jesus means knowing this power, the new life that is imparted to us now, not when we die. Paul wanted to know the Power Of His Resurrection because he knew that …...

The power of His resurrection is an evidencing power. It is the evidence and seal that everything Jesus did and said was true.
The power of His resurrection is a justifying power. It is the receipt and proof that the sacrifice of the cross was accepted as payment in full.
The power of His resurrection is a life-giving power. It means that those who are connected with Jesus Christ receive the same resurrection life.
The power of His resurrection is a consoling and comforting power. It promises that our friends and loved ones who are dead in Christ live with Him.

The beautiful thing to notice here in this same verse is that Paul not only wants to know Jesus Christ’s resurrection power but he also wants to have a part in the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings. Because he knew that knowing Jesus also means knowing this fellowship of His sufferings. It is all part of following Jesus and being in Christ. We can say that suffering is part of our heritage as the children of God; we get to be part of the family of suffering: If children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together (Romans 8:17). Neither suffering nor the idea of death kept Paul from following Christ Jesus. He very well knew that suffering and persecution was a part of living for Christ. He himself said it “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead”. He saw that they were a necessary way to the goal of resurrection life right now and the ultimate resurrection from the dead.

Sometimes it seems like it is so easy for us readers to try and reason and explain about Paul’s letter in the Bible, about his desires, his immense zeal for Christ. But for once if we can step into his place we can understand and see that he didn’t write these words for the sake of it. We can very well say that he was not only a man who talks the talk but he was a surely man who walked the walk. These words he wrote down weren’t just theological theory or ideas or fictional concept. They were his life; because what Paul suffered was much more than we will ever experience. It not only came from his sufferings but from his close personal relationship with Christ.

By SS

Reference Commentary: enduring word