The knowledge of Messiah:
Phil.3:8,”Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Messiah Jesus my Lord:”
St. Paul was one of the greatest disciples of Yahshua Messiah. He was a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee (Act.23:6), and lived a Pharisee, (Act.26:5). He had a blameless reputation. As per the Jewish interpretation of the law , he was blameless, as to the letter of the law and outward observance of the law, he could not be accused by any. He had been an active man for his religion. He was a strict Pharisee and persecuted the church with great enthusiasm. All this was enough to have made this proud Jew confident, and was sufficient for his justification. His knowledge of the Scriptures was very deep. But after his conversion he said ,’… and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Messiah Yahshua my Lord:” Paul is telling us that all the worldly knowledge that he had gathered was of no use, he counted it as rubbish, in the face of the knowledge or knowing Messiah.
Many people make the mistake of reading everything about Yahshua and say they know all about him. But this is only academic knowledge. Knowing about Yahshua is different from knowing him personally. One may know everything about him but unless you accept that he is the Saviour, all that knowledge is a waste. And it is the excellency of knowledge. The word "excellency" means "superior, above and beyond the ordinary." There is an abundant and uplifting excellency in the doctrine of Messiah, or the Christian religion above all the knowledge of nature, and improvements of human wisdom; for it is suited to the case of fallen sinners, and furnishes them with all they need and all they can desire and hope for, with all saving wisdom and saving grace.
It will be a personal knowledge. Spiritual knowledge of Messiah will be a personal knowledge. You cannot know Yahshua through another person's acquaintance with him. No, we must know him ourselves.
It will be an intelligent knowledge-We must know him, not as the visionary dreams of him, but as the Word reveals him. we must know his natures, divine and human. we must know his offices-his attributes-his works-his shame-his glory. we must meditate upon him until I "comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and know the love of Messiah, which passeth knowledge."
It will be an affectionate knowledge of him; indeed, if we know him at all, we must love him. An ounce of heart knowledge is worth a ton of head learning.
It will be a satisfying knowledge. When we know my Saviour, our mind will be full to the brim-we shall feel that we have that which our spirit panted after. "This is that bread whereof if a man eat he shall never hunger."
It will be an exciting knowledge; the more we know of our Beloved, the more we shall want to know. The higher we climb the loftier will be the summits which invite our eager footsteps. We shall want the more as we get the more. Like the miser's treasure, our gold will make us covet more. To conclude; this knowledge of Yahshua Messiah will be a most happy one; in fact, so elevating, that sometimes it will completely bear us up above all trials, and doubts, and sorrows; and it will, while we enjoy it, make us something more than "Man that is born of woman, who is of few days, and full of trouble"; for it will fling about us the immortality of the ever living Saviour, and gird us with the golden girdle of his eternal joy. Come, my soul, sit at Yahshua's feet and learn of him all this day.
In Luke 10:38-42, we read about Yahshua going to Mary and Martha’s house in Bethany. Mary was busy preparing dinner for Yahshua but Martha sat at Yahshua’s feet, listening to him. She was not interested in cooking or eating the delicious meal but her portion was the gospel; the love of Elohim, and an interest in his kingdom. She had chosen to be a Christian, and to give up her time and affections to Yahshua.
The knowledge of Messiah is a blessing so surpassing and uplifting that nothing else is worthy to be called good in comparison with that one highest good. Its glory, like the rising sun, overwhelms and hides all lesser lights.
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Yahshua Messiah, my Lord”, Phi_3:8. Here the apostle tells us that his goal was the knowledge of Yahshua Messiah his Lord, not academic but a practical and effective knowledge of him. So knowledge is sometimes put for faith: ‘By his knowledge, or the knowledge of him, shall my righteous servant justify many’, Isa_53:11. And it is the excellency of knowledge. There is excellency in the doctrine of Messiah, or the Christian religion above all the knowledge of nature, and improvements of human wisdom; for it is suited to the case of fallen sinners, and furnishes them with all they need and all they can desire and hope for, with all saving wisdom and saving grace.
“The knowledge of Messiah" does not mean the knowledge that is in Messiah, or which he has of others, either as God or man, that knowledge which believers have of him, as a Saviour and Redeemer, as their Lord, not by creation only, but by redemption and grace.
To know Yahshua in a personal, intimate way is a blessing beyond compare! He is more than jus t story in some old book. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother! He is the shade on my right hand. He reveals Himself in the storm and in the sunshine. He shows His glory on the mountain of victory and in the valley of defeat. To know Him in salvation is just the beginning! Every mile reveals more of His glory to the seeking pilgrim! Every valley proves His sweetness. Every burden His grace. Every step is fragrant with His power and presence in the life of the believer. Yes. All of life is but dung compared with the knowledge of Him!). Do you know Him? Not just know about Him, that is never enough! Do you know Him personally, intimately and experientially?
