Jesus Saith, "Come And Dine!" But None Of The Disciples Durst Ask Him, "Who Art Thou?" Knowing That He Was The Lord - Part 1868

Jesus saith unto them, "Come and dine." And none of the disciples durst ask him, "Who art thou?" knowing that it was the Lord." (John 21:12)

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles -- "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.

Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory ... for this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:1-21)

We know that apostle Paul (as Saul) was blinded on the road to Damascus by a bright light. A short time prior, Saul was an overseer to the stoning of Stephen, one of the seven chosen to be table servants. Thus, from Stephen's testimony, Saul already knew about Jesus. He was (as the scriptures state) without excuse. Still, Saul did not know Jesus and this is a key understanding.

So, when he was suddenly stopped on his way to Damascus, wherein his motives were to gather and jail any believers in Jesus that he found, Saul knew that this encounter was significant.

This may explain why Saul asked, "Who art Thou, Lord?" (Acts 9:5; Acts 22:8; Acts 26:15) The voice from heaven told Saul that He was Jesus, the same Jesus who was both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) In the rest of the book of Acts, we begin to see how Saul became Paul, chosen specifically by the Lord Jesus Christ to become an apostle to the Gentiles. As a side note, it is important to note that Saul was very well educated, and thus, familiar with the intricacies of the Old Testament. Even so, Saul was instructed to go to see Ananias where he was taught about salvation and water baptized in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Further elaboration can be found in Acts 9.

"And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Behold, I am here, Lord." ... And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight ... Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem," ... And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou might receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 9:10-17)

But I digress. By the time Paul (an apostle and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ) writes to the Ephesians, he has acquired an increased level of understanding, this time by revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ. In chapter 3, Paul tells us that we live in the dispensation of grace of God. We are no longer living under the old covenant of Law, even though that Law serves as a schoolmaster to point us to Christ. But after we receive Jesus within our hearts, His law is written in our hearts, wherein, He as the Comforter (the Holy Ghost) leads and guides us into all truth. (John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 1:2-3; I Timothy 3:16)

The law that states -- Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is one Lord, and we are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. With His abundant love in our heart, which we understand that the grace of God has extended to us, we are able to love one another. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31)

After the kindness and love of God our Saviour ... (Titus 3:4-7) The mystery of godliness that was held in the bosom of the Father from the very beginning. The mystery of Christ, which Paul has written afore in a few words, is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

His purpose? So that the Gentiles should become fellow heirs, and of the same body of Christ church, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. And, as Paul has said in another scripture, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ sets us free. We can stand fast in His liberty because He paid the ultimate price -- the perfect sacrifice -- on that cross, when He shed His precious holy blood on the cross for you and I.

Yes, Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. His Name given to us specifically for this dispensation of grace.  "And ye shall call His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us!" (Matthew 1:21-23)

The Word made flesh and dwelt among us. He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:1-14)

Throughout the scriptures, the Lord God reveals Himself to His people. And in this current dispensation of grace, His Name is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6)

And lest we be led astray by the modern day religious culture, the scriptures clearly declare that Mary (who was blessed in bringing forth this son) clearly rejoiced in God her Saviour. (Luke 1:67) So did John the baptizer point to Jesus as the prophesied Lamb of God. Likewise, the prophets, psalmist, and those that followed Jesus daily as disciples knew that Jesus was the Messiah.

Therefore, the knowledge of the covenant wherein the Lord God would take away our sins is found in the Word. This is why we can be assured that the good news gospel message of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ is not hidden from those who seek Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. In fact, when our hearts turn in totality to Him -- the Lord Jesus Christ which was made of the Seed of David according to the flesh; and declared the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations for His Name, among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ ..." our salvation is confirmed. (Romans 11:25-36)

No longer are we conformed to this world, but rather, because of our Lord God's willingness to become our Saviour, we are transformed by the renewing of our mind, that ye prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. In this time of pressing into the Lord Jesus, we begin to see Him for who He really is. Not as a God who sent His one and only Son to die, but rather as Almighty God who gave His only "begotten" Son for us. He clothed Himself in sin-prone flesh (yet without sin) so that we might have life, when we believe in our hearts that Jesus is both Lord and Christ.

Meditate on these things, knowing that when one does everything they do in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, He is our sustenance and strength, and that our hearts will bubble over with His joy and peace and mercy and love.

Stand in the offering plate.