A WORD FOR 2024
(“A Word,” means the direction for the year coming out of hearing in the place of prayer.)
Knowing Jesus (Experiential Knowledge)
The text from scripture quoted on the front of the report (Phil. 3:7-11) contains the phrase, “knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,” and further down in the section uses the phrase, “that I may know Him.” The word know, in both instances comes from the Greek word gnosis. Weust in his WORD STUDIES IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT PG. 91 writes:
The expression “the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,” does not refer to the knowledge which the Lord Jesus possesses, but the knowledge of the Lord Jesus which Paul gained through the experience of intimate companionship and communion with Him. Paul came to know His heart, His will, as one comes to know another through intimate fellowship and close association with that person. The distinctive Greek word for “knowledge” used here, leads us to this interpretation.
Then when Weust is commenting on “that I may know Him,” he says:
But Paul has forfeited the loss of all things not only that he might appropriate Christ as Saviour and have others see by his life that that was the case, but in order that he may know Him. The words “to know,” are again, “to know by experience.” Paul wants to come to know the Lord Jesus in that fulness of experimental knowledge which is only wrought by being like Him.
This is what we are focusing on this year, which is clearly a lifelong journey and pursuit: to know (experientially) Jesus Christ. We have already and will look at ways He describes Himself in I AM statements or is described by the Holy Spirit in the Scripture through another or though the Father Himself.
I will remind us of one illustration we have touched on and comment personally on the impact of it. Jesus as the Lamb of God. It came to me that in knowing Jesus as the Lamb of God, I am drawn into His life of sacrifice. It isn’t just knowing about His sacrifice. It is being conformed in relationship with Him to His life of sacrifice. I will never hear the phrase LAMB OF GOD the same again.
I am already experiencing and seeing among us the reality of why Jesus is calling us to this focus and look forward to all He will bring of revelation of Himself to us all.
(see Philippians 3:7-14)