Learn of Jesus - Part 10, Knowledge Is Hidden in Jesus
David W Palmer
(Colossians 2:3 NKJV) “In whom (Jesus) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
The Holy Spirit shows us in the New Testament that true wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Jesus, the Living Word (See: John 1:1–3, 14). Furthermore, in the Old Testament, he also shows that it is through his “knowledge” (Heb: cunning, Strongs 1847) that the Lord Jesus could be the justifier of the unjust. Amazing! This means that all that is available to us in the New Testament is accessed through the knowledge that is “hidden” in Jesus:
(Isaiah 53:11 NKJV) “He shall see the Labour of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.”
Relating and communing with Jesus in the spirit is what gaining true and eternal knowledge is all about. It all comes down to this truth: knowledge is hidden in Jesus. Therefore knowing Jesus personally and intimately is having true knowledge—relationally knowing him who is Truth (John 14:6). Yes, God’s true knowledge is all about knowing Jesus; it is not merely an accumulation of memorized facts, but a relationship with the one in whom all of God’s pure knowledge is hidden.
The Holy Spirit speaks of this through Peter:
(2 Peter 1:2–3 NKJV) “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, {3} as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
By knowing Jesus personally and intimately, we have access to “His divine power,” which has given to us “all things that pertain to life and godliness”—that is, “everything we need to live a godly life” (NLT) comes to us by revelation knowledge. Peter goes on to explain God’s absolute genius in the process he put in place to get “His divine power” to us:
(2 Peter 1:4 NKJV) “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
We receive through “promises.” Note that he doesn’t use the words of contract, law, or science. Again, we see God’s desire for intimacy in his use of the very relational word, “promises.” Yes, God has promised each of us very personally that if we trust him, he will not only give us access to his power, but he will allow us to partake of his “divine nature.”
Wow! It is difficult to grasp the full impact and importance of what the Holy Spirit is saying here. If we can share in God’s own “divine nature”—living as God’s generated offspring, reproduced in his image and makeup—then we can be holy, whole, creative, peaceful, powerful, and full of life. Again, Wow! But how do we access and activate this amazing potential? Through his “exceedingly great and precious promises.” This comes back to beginning with the [candle-power] light we have, God’s written word. The revelation knowledge we need to access God’s power and divine nature is hidden in Jesus—the Living Word.
So let’s get busy in the word, relating to it honestly, receiving revelation freely, and obeying it humbly. Meditate on it, take heed to it until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart; then you have the revelation of his promises that he is speaking of:
(2 Peter 1:19 NKJV) “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
The Holy Spirit says we need to add a few more things into this process:
(2 Peter 1:5–8 NKJV) “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, {6} to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, {7} to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. {8} For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Obedience to the Holy Spirit’s list of instructions in this passage will bring us to fruitfulness—fruitfulness in the “knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” That is, in knowing Jesus personally, and learning from him and of him. This will in turn bring us into a revelation of his promises. In other words, his great and precious promises will come alive to us personally in a way that allows us to receive them.
Let’s do it! What are we waiting for? Let’s draw near to Jesus today through his word and “learn from him”:
(Matthew 11:29–30 NKJV) “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”