What do you want more than anything else in life? The Apostle Paul having lived a full life with extraordinary personal talent and opportunities said, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11.
Paul wanted to know Jesus Christ more than he wanted anything else. Jesus put it into perspective when He prayed, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3.
To know Christ we must first experience the power of His resurrection. We do so through faith, relationship, and experience:
Through faith, because He “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God” Romans 4:25, 5:1a.
Through relationship because “if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.” Romans 8:11. The Spirit of God within brings transformation of character and lifestyle.
Through experience as He provides signs and wonders. Supernatural experiences are not the basis of faith, but they are an encouragement to faith. For example, every time He heals someone it is a sign of the coming resurrection from the dead, as well as an immediate benefit.
To know Christ also involves the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings. Suffering is part of the human condition, but there is a suffering unique to Christians. The sufferings of Christ which we share are the product of Satan’s resistance, persecution by men, and our obedient sacrifice:
Jesus experienced Satan’s resistance and so will we. “Resist him (Satan), standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:9).
Jesus experienced persecution by men and the scripture says “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ…If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (1 Peter 4:12-14).
Regarding obedient sacrifice Paul said, “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.” (Col 1:24). We can add nothing to the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross, but He left work for us to do in the building up of His church. That work is sometimes sacrificial and brings a degree of suffering into our lives.
Becoming like Christ in His death means sharing His suffering and His triumph. On the cross He disarmed satanic powers and authorities, He loved the world unconditionally, and He fulfilled God’s purpose by providing salvation for all who believe on Him. Sharing in the sufferings of Christ is the way of the overcomer. He could have delivered us from all suffering, but we would have missed out on enriched personal growth, victory in Jesus, and a deepened relationship with Him.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
