Knowledge of Jesus

Ep 1:17

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him”.

This verse is a prayer that Paul, the Apostle prays to the Almighty about the church in Ephesus. This church as per verse 15, they were faithful and loving towards the Saints. This faith and love were exemplary and heard everywhere. That would be amazing right.

But, at this same time, it is evident that we can be with faith and may give a lot to God, but lack in understanding of Christ. Here, Paul does not give them the understanding of Christ, neither asks them to search for the knowledge of Christ, but prays to God so that God would give them this understanding.

We should acknowledge that it is not easy to understand Christ and this love towards us. It is also not easy for us to understand what his riches are (vs. 18).

The same verse mentions that Wisdom and Revelation are required to understand Jesus and the richness we will receive in heaven. This revelation is not as John’s which one person got and shared to everyone, but an individual revelation. These things are hard to explain in words.

In Vs 9 (vs 10 in tamil), Paul says that it is a mystery of his will. The will of God which is being executed through Christ is a mystery. But, it is a blessing and a great honor we are having if we have properly understood who Christ is and what His will is.

Mathew 13:11. “Granted”. These were not studied and gained, but granted by the Holy Ghost to us. So, there is no use in pursuing studies either.

In this meditation, I am not trying to explain the knowledge of Christ; but, the fact that it is a large mystery and we should pray that God would help us understand more and more of this truth.

1.       Our perception of Jesus is incomplete.

a.       We think Jesus as a God who is strong, powerful and merciful towards people who are in trouble. We also preach the same Jesus.

b.      Yes, he is strong, powerful and merciful. But did He come to the world for only that? He is an almighty and His purpose is that we should be there to glorify Him. (Ep 1:12)

c.       He came to serve us so that we would live a life that glorifies Him. We may receive all health, wealth and every other spiritual gifts also. But those are not the purpose. (Mat 7:22,23). There is no good if there is no relationship with God. Jesus mentions that “I did not know you” here.

d.      We also see the reference that Jesus did not comment anything about the word “Lord, Lord”. That too twice. We also have references that He received worship (Mat 14:33, Mathew 28:9)

e.      In John 5:3 we can see that there were a multitude of people in the pool of Bethesda. But, Jesus went and saw one person only and cured him. And, then in Vs 14 wants him to repent.

f.        Job 11:7

g.       Ep 3:4 “only my knowledge”. Paul never concludes that this is the whole mystery, but only what I know.

h.      About Jesus, we see that God has wrought him (Ep 1:20) (worked on him) so that he was given and raised from the dead and is seated in his right hand. This makes the fact that Jesus, our fore runner’s sacrifice has been fully accepted by God and we have complete rights in entering the kingdom.

i.         Also, we read that Jesus is the head, we are the body (Ep 1: 22,23). Everything in heaven and earth is under His feet i.e., his body. But we are looking for blessings from the dust below us rather than looking up at the head and the richness God has prepared for us.

2.       Our understanding of His Kingdom is incomplete.

a.       We think of human measured money, treasures, gold or property etc that count as richness. We even assume that these will be in abundance.

b.      Romans 14:17 – A kingdom full of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

c.       The context of this verse clearly says that our food or ways in the earth may be a grief to others.  We have to be cautious in what we eat, drink, dress etc…

d.      One more thing is that our holiness in eating, drinking and dressing are meant only with the standard of encouraging others towards Christ. If we show ourselves as too holy by dressing in whites or removing jewellery, it may not give this encouragement.

e.      Also, we try to define a parallel holiness which is not in the Bible and try to be satisfied in that. This satisfaction is not from God. Please understand that we are being deceived if we are happy that we do not wear jewellery or properly give tithes and these qualities will make us deserve his Kingdom.

f.        We need peace that comes from complete trust in Christ Jesus. Everybody struggles here and clearly, that is sin too. Rom 14:23 We are far away from His holiness and should stay at his feet every single day longing for that. This is the same condition for every Christian.

g.       The fact that Satan will be bound in heaven (Rev 20:3). There will be no temptation and so, no sin. We will have no problem in facing God at all.

Let God help us with the spirit of wisdom and revelation to know him more and more…