Not knowing Christ

The world does not know Christ (John 1:10). As the blind man does not know the sun though it shine upon him, no more does the carnal and worldly man know Christ though He shine upon him in the gospel, for “the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5). Such is man’s ignorance that as the light shining in Goshen did not pierce the darkness where the Egyptians sat (Exodus 10), no more does the light of the gospel penetrate their souls, but they sit in darkness and the shadow of death. At the noonday (Isa. 59:10) of the gospel they are in the midnight of ignorance. Our Savior said to such, “Ye neither know me, nor my Father” (John 8:19). They know not the beauties of Christ. They see no comeliness in Him for which they should desire Him (Isa. 53:2). He is no more to them than another beloved. They do not know the power of Christ in softening their hearts, as the ground knows the power of the dew in supplying it; in quickening their souls, as Lazarus knew the power of Christ in raising his body; and in restoring them to spiritual liberty, as Peter knew the power of the angel who struck off the fetters and set him free from Herod’s prison. They do not know the death of Christ, as the members know the death of the head, and the branches the death of the root in withering and dying with it. They do not so know His death, that their “old man is crucified with him” (Rom. 6:6), that the body of sin is destroyed, and they no more serve sin. They do not know the resurrection of Christ, coming forth from the grave of their sin, as the dead knew the resurrection of Christ, their bodies coming out of the grave with Him. They do not know the gracious presence and inhabitation of Christ in their souls, as Obededom knew the presence and dwelling of the ark in his house, causing all that he had to prosper (2 Sam. 6:11), making their souls flourish in all saving graces. They do not know the love of Christ, as the bride in the bridechamber knows the love of the bridegroom, as the guests in the banqueting house know the love of the master of the feast, or as David knew the love of Jonathan. To them Christ is not like Jonathan to David, very pleasant to their souls. His love is not wonderful to their sense and feeling, passing the love of women (2 Sam. 1:26). They do not know Christ in His gospel, as a friend in his letters; as a king in his ambassadors of peace; as a musician in his musical instruments, making a joyful sound in their ears; or as the lame man knew the angel in Bethesda healing diseases (John 5:4–5). They do not know Christ’s fullness as the seeing eye knows the fullness of light in the sun, or as the thirsty palate knows the fullness of water in the fountain. And because they do not know Him, they do not make it a point to come to Him. Ignorance is a great impediment in coming to Christ Jesus. Hagar did not come to the well until her eyes were opened to see the well (Genesis 21). No man embraces Christ until his understanding is enlightened to see and discern Christ rightly. Men through ignorance have very disgraceful opinions of Christ, remain great strangers to Christ, and are very injurious against Christ. Alexander Grosse