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“Knowing Jesus Christ”, by Mrs Johana Mukhavhuli, Wednesday Service, the 22nd of February 2012.
Mark 8:27-29 “27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?" 28 So they answered,"John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." 29 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ." Mark 8:27-29, NKJV.
The people were from different backgrounds and areas and so they all had a different idea on who Jesus was. In verse 28 the bible responded and after the disciples gave the various answers he asked them in verse 29 "But who do you say that I am?" They also showed the fact that they were not sure of his identity. It means that they were always with Him but they did not actually know who He was. Peter helped them because the Holy Spirit revealed unto Him and he answered "You are the Christ." If the disciples knew who he was, he would not have had to ask them. He asked because He knew that they did not know him properly.
Acts 9:1-7 “9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.” Acts 9:1-7, NKJV.
Saul knew the scriptures but he did not have the spirit of God in Him. He was persecuting the Christians and he was enjoying it. He did not feel any guilt in doing what he was doing which is why he even went to the High priest for letters of authority to persecute and kill more Christians.
Whilst on the way to destroy and persecute the kingdom of God he met Jesus Christ. He saw the light of God. Saul asked "Who are You, Lord?" He saw the lighting of the Lord He never knew. Yes, He knew other lords but not the Living Lord.
Phil 3:6-12
“6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Pressing Toward the Goal 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” Phil 3:6-12, NKJV.
The encounter of Saul with God changed him from inside and his spiritual eyes were enlightened. He realised that what he had been doing was in vain but from the day he knew Christ he got to know the power of Jesus and Him crucified.
Jesus gave him a new identity and redeemed him from death. Since he knew Christ he started to understand the pain that Christ had to go through. He was unlike the disciples who even though they walked with Christ for a long time did not know Him but He knew Christ. His knowledge of Christ separated him from the world. He realised the things that he was doing which were in vain, amongst others, killing and persecuting Christians.
What about you? Since you met Christ, have you stopped taking bribes, receiving stolen property etc Paul did not walk with the Christ he did not know. He knew Christ. The disciples did not know Jesus, the people did not know Jesus but Paul says ever since I knew Christ there has been a change in my life. Yesterday and today are no longer the same. I know Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Ever since you knew Jesus Christ what measures did you take in your life? Are you sticking to the copy (fake) of Jesus Christ or you have the real Him?
A person can be a good person without knowledge of or knowing Christ. Let’s not just talk about Jesus Christ, let’s know Him and the power of His resurrection. There is no way you can meet Jesus Christ and still be the same person from your yesterday. Ever since Paul knew Christ he forsook all else and went after Jesus Christ. He wanted to know Christ in full and he then got to know the real Christ and the power of His resurrection.
The people were from different backgrounds and areas and so they all had a different idea on who Jesus was. In verse 28 the bible responded and after the disciples gave the various answers he asked them in verse 29 "But who do you say that I am?" They also showed the fact that they were not sure of his identity. It means that they were always with Him but they did not actually know who He was. Peter helped them because the Holy Spirit revealed unto Him and he answered "You are the Christ." If the disciples knew who he was, he would not have had to ask them. He asked because He knew that they did not know him properly.
Acts 9:1-7 “9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.” Acts 9:1-7, NKJV.
Saul knew the scriptures but he did not have the spirit of God in Him. He was persecuting the Christians and he was enjoying it. He did not feel any guilt in doing what he was doing which is why he even went to the High priest for letters of authority to persecute and kill more Christians.
Whilst on the way to destroy and persecute the kingdom of God he met Jesus Christ. He saw the light of God. Saul asked "Who are You, Lord?" He saw the lighting of the Lord He never knew. Yes, He knew other lords but not the Living Lord.
Phil 3:6-12
“6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Pressing Toward the Goal 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” Phil 3:6-12, NKJV.
The encounter of Saul with God changed him from inside and his spiritual eyes were enlightened. He realised that what he had been doing was in vain but from the day he knew Christ he got to know the power of Jesus and Him crucified.
Jesus gave him a new identity and redeemed him from death. Since he knew Christ he started to understand the pain that Christ had to go through. He was unlike the disciples who even though they walked with Christ for a long time did not know Him but He knew Christ. His knowledge of Christ separated him from the world. He realised the things that he was doing which were in vain, amongst others, killing and persecuting Christians.
What about you? Since you met Christ, have you stopped taking bribes, receiving stolen property etc Paul did not walk with the Christ he did not know. He knew Christ. The disciples did not know Jesus, the people did not know Jesus but Paul says ever since I knew Christ there has been a change in my life. Yesterday and today are no longer the same. I know Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Ever since you knew Jesus Christ what measures did you take in your life? Are you sticking to the copy (fake) of Jesus Christ or you have the real Him?
A person can be a good person without knowledge of or knowing Christ. Let’s not just talk about Jesus Christ, let’s know Him and the power of His resurrection. There is no way you can meet Jesus Christ and still be the same person from your yesterday. Ever since Paul knew Christ he forsook all else and went after Jesus Christ. He wanted to know Christ in full and he then got to know the real Christ and the power of His resurrection.