To Know Nothing Else

Of all the immeasurably beautiful things said in the Bible, one simple phrase sticks out to me as being the key to my life. It’s not a beautiful promise. It’s no song of praise. It involves no deep revelation. Only a solemn goal. One phrase to live by. “I resolve to know nothing but Christ and him crucified” 1 Cor 2:2. Sounds kind of strange—that the knowledge of a gory, pitiful, even embarrassing death could become my mantra.

I’ve been thinking about these words a lot lately, partially because Easter calls to mind Jesus’ death and resurrection, but mostly because God keeps on confronting me with the fact that I don’t actually live as if my “favorite” words were true. If I truly resolved to know nothing but Christ and him crucified, the knowledge of Jesus’ death and resurrection would be all I ever needed. So when I live as if I need to know my future, or what certain circumstances and relationships are going to be like, my reality is that Jesus really isn’t enough for me. In a way, I cheapen his death. I cheapen God’s love.

If the reality of my life is that I often find myself “needing” to know a lot more than Christ, I have to question why I proclaim 1 Cor. 2:2 as the mission of my life. Why am I so drawn to those words and what could they mean for me? I need to reevaluate for myself what is the knowledge of Jesus, his death, and resurrection.

Jesus: the son of God who came to earth as a love-offering so that sinful people like me could have a relationship with a loving, all-knowing, sovereign God. He is called “the Good shepherd,” “God with us,” “Prince of Peace,” “Redeemer of the world,” “Healer,” “Teacher,” “Brother,” “Giver of Life”

His Death: Hated, rejected, abandoned, misunderstood, and unaccepted by the whole world, He submitted himself to the harshest capital punishment. Being led to the cross, Jesus went “with joy” and did not utter one word of defense or turn against anyone in hatred or bitterness.

His Resurrection: Not only did Jesus himself rise to Heaven, but in doing so he made a way for us to rise and be seated “on heavenly places” with him---right here, right now. With His death, my sinful flesh died too and Jesus now lives in me. Because of this, the same power that conquered the grave is within me and I can live lacking nothing.

Reflecting on these three elements right now, I have to admit that I am amazed—that three basic summaries can say so much about who God is and what he desires for my life. I see that in knowing Jesus, his death, and his resurrection, I can be lead continually by a loving hand through a dark and confusing world. I can have a heart, body, and mind healed and renewed. I can live at peace regardless of circumstance. I can find full security, even if everybody else in the world rejects, misunderstands, hates, and abandons me. I can overcome sin, selfishness, and urges to defend myself or be right. I can learn how to love in a way that surpasses human ability, comprehension or merit. I can actively see and experience glory while here on earth. I can live never wanting, regardless of life circumstances. The list could go on and on, couldn’t it? I think I can sum it up in saying that in the knowledge of Christ, his death, and resurrection, I can live knowing that I don’t have to worry about myself or my life because all that I have and am is in the hands of One far greater than me. Maybe that’s why Paul felt the need to remind us (and perhaps himself) that all we need to do is resolve to know nothing but Christ. All the rest is just details.

As you go into this Easter weekend, I encourage you to take a moment and evaluate Jesus’ death and resurrection and what they mean in your own life. Are you OK with knowing nothing else, or, like me, does your reality often say that Jesus isn’t enough? Thankfully, our hypocrisy does not actually change who God is or what He is doing in our lives. It does not change the fact that whether or not we realize or accept it, He is calling us to a banquet feast, where we sit on high at his table, fueled for a life of abundance. May we all meet each other there this Easter.