Learning from the Master Teacher:“I want to know Christ” (Php 3:10)
“But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.” (Luke 21:14-15)
You are warmly welcome to Kakumba Chapel!
As we continue to celebrate the victory of the resurrection, I am drawn to the deep desire expressed by the Apostle Paul: “I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Php 3:10-11). There is that one thing that you crave so badly; it is most important in life, and you could spend all you have to get it. For some people it is prime land, for others it is education in a particular line, while others will even give their lives for their religious convictions – talk of Islamist suicide bombers and Christian martyrs of the past. Unfortunately, in the pursuit of these most desired dreams, many people turn to dubious ways in order to advance and achieve. This results in pseudo success and the end of it all is still emptiness!
The greatest and best desire of all time is ‘to know God’, who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ; we find many exemplary seekers in the Bible: the shepherds who received the revelation decided to take leave from their work and ‘go to Bethlehem and see’; this was an active response. Nicodemus the great teacher of Israel, yet still thirsty for more, discovered how much God had given out of love (John 3); while deliberately interacting with Jesus, Nicodemus must have noticed that through Jesus Christ,
In love God gave the Revealer of mysteries,
In love God gave the Teacher of teachers,
In love God gave the Light and Healer of spiritual blindness
In love God gave the Way to eternal life
In love God gave the Fulfillment of the great prophecies
In love God gave the giver of words and wisdom no enemy can resist
Nicodemus with all his stature subjected himself to learn some more from this greater Teacher; John the Baptist was also glad to know the Christ, and testifies that Jesus must become greater in ministry. Although He was rejected by religious and other leaders of his day, yet there was sufficient testimony from all ranks that salvation was wrought by Him, and many desired to know Him.
Let us invigorate our desire to know the Lord, seek Him and learn from Him, putting this above all other cravings and aspirations, as Paul said… ‘All I want is to know Christ” (Php 3:10 CEV).
God bless you.