I Want To Know Christ Series

I want to know Christ

Philippians 3:7-11

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 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, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Slide 1 Map of Israel in Jesus time

Our destination is in sight dear friends. These last few weeks we have been following Jesus from Capernaum to Bethany. With each step of the way we have met many others also on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast. They are coming by the hundreds and thousands.

Slide 2 of crowds on the ancient roads

We first met the rich young ruler who wanted to know what he should do to inherit eternal life.

Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you lack, he said. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

We must love Jesus more than the things of this world.

In week two of our journey we listened as Peter reminded Jesus of the price he and the disciples had paid to follow him these three years.

28 Peter said to him, We have left everything to follow you! 29 I tell you the truth, Jesus replied, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

What we sacrifice for following Jesus will be worth it all. It will come at a price.

In week three we learned to wait on God that His timing is always perfect timing.

We crossed the line and saw Jesus reveal His power as the giver of new life as Lazarus was raised from the dead after being buried four days.

And last week was our fourth week on the road with Jesus as we celebrated and partied with Jesus and the risen Lazarus only to see Mary (Lazarus sister) anoints Jesus for His burial with all that expensive perfume.

Then the room was filled with that beautiful fragrance that lingered in the air and is still on our clothes. Then Jesus quickly left for the solitude of a sacred place in Ephraim at Bethel to prepare to enter Jerusalem.

Now we approach Jerusalem along with the noisy throng. We see families and seniors; we see the rich and the poor make their way to that Holy city. Some bring with them their sacrifices, lambs and goats and doves. It’s almost as if we are boarding Noah’s Ark.

I guess in a way we are? God saved us back then too with water but this time it will be with blood; the blood of a perfect sacrifice; Jesus.

Passover, what sins do we need covered this year? They are too many to count and God knows everyone so I can not deny a single one. I sometimes feel I’m the one to blame that somehow my sins have caused so much pain I might never be forgiven.

All I can do is walk with all of you with Jesus trusting that His love will pay the price of my sin. I see in Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world just as John the Baptist said.

How I want to know Him more. I have gotten to know Him a little better since we started this journey but there is still so much more to know about him.

I have left many things behind me to be here with you and with Jesus.

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 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, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.