Knowledge
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.
I want to know Jesus. Properly. Truly. I want to know the one who is in very nature God, and took on the form of a servant. I want to know the one who became man, was born in a scungy little rural town in the backwaters of Israel.
I want to know the one who lived life amongst his people, while they didn’t recognise who he was. I want to know the one who called sinners to himself. I want to know the one who taught the wisdom of God.
I want to know Jesus, who suffered terribly at the hands of men. I want to know the one who was arrested on dodgy charges, who was beaten up by thugs, who was condemned by a frenzied crowd and a cowardly man. I want to know my Lord, who did not retaliate, but took it all. I want to know the man who bore the sins of all of these people. I want to know Jesus, God himself, who bore my sins.
I want to know this divine man, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was strung up to die on a Roman cross. I want to know about his death, because his death was for me, and for you. I want to be his follower, being like him in his death, because in his death I am united to my Lord. I want to know this Jesus, because his death is freedom for me.
I want to know Jesus, to be united to him, to have fellowship in sharing in his sufferings, in suffering now for his name, so that I am part of his people. I don’t know why God chose me, to give me life, to set me aside for resurrection on the final day, but I want to know Jesus my Lord and share in his resurrection.
To live is Christ. To die is gain.
I don’t want to know the things I’ve done. They’re rubbish.
I want to know Christ.
I hope you do too.
