These words were from the pen and heart of the Apostle Paul (Phil. 3:1010That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:10)). As I meditate upon them in faith in the presence of Christ, my own heart also breathes out, “Oh, that I might know Him.” It may seem strange that such words should be written by Paul who:
(1) When journeying to Damascus to persecute and imprison the saints, had been arrested by the Lord, who spoke to him from heaven and drew him to Himself in true heart repentance (Acts 9).
(2) Was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words (2 Cor. 12:4).
(5) Counted the things which were gain to him naturally as loss for Christ (Phil. 3:78).
(6) Declared, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day (2 Tim. 1:12).
Surely none knew the Lord Jesus Christ like Paul! It was because He knew Him and loved Him with deep devotion that he desired to know Him fully, even to conformity to His death. We may well ask, “Who is this person whom the Apostle desired to know?”
In the past eternity He was with the Father —“daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him” (Prov. 8:3030Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; (Proverbs 8:30)), while “by Him were all things created” (Col. 1:1616For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)). In the fullness of time He had come forth from the Father into the world (John 16:2828I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. (John 16:28)) and, while in it, so delighted the heart of the Father that He declared from heaven concerning Him, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him” (Matt. 17:55While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5)). In John 10:1717Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (John 10:17), we read the Lord’s words, “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again.” Of His own volition He went to the cross in our stead — “His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Before He bowed His head and gave up the ghost, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)).
Now our precious Saviour is alive forevermore, and He has entered into heaven itself, having obtained eternal redemption (Heb. 9:1212Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)). He now appears in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:2424For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24)). Soon He will come and take us to heaven to be with Himself and like Himself forever (1 Thess. 4:13-18). What a wonderful Saviour He is, and how deeply we should love Him and desire to know Him more! If we are willing, He will draw us to Himself, into a sphere where all is of God. There we learn Him in the preciousness of His love; there we long to dwell forever with the Lord. If we are there already in spirit, there will be the corresponding answer while we are left here. There will be flow of worship to the Father, acceptable through Christ Jesus our Lord; there will be love one toward another as those who are members of His assembly; also there will be ministry of Christ among us followed by the telling forth of the glad tidings in the power of the Holy Spirit. May the true language of each of our hearts be “that I may know Him!” P. Jackson