Philippians 2:1-2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

This passage took on a whole new meaning for me this morning as I thought about a consolation prize. Strange that I should think that way about Christ but as I studied the Word I discovered something interesting. The Jews of Jesus’ time were waiting on the Messiah in exactly the same way we are waiting upon His second coming now.

Jesus came to save us from ourselves, to dispense with sin as an obstacle in relationship with God. The Jews of His day felt like they had a relationship and wanted the Messiah to come and save them from the Roman occupation. In many ways this is the same for us today. We want to be saved from this present world and come into His rest.

The consolation spoken of in Philippians 2:1 is a coming along beside of, not to take you out of your present condition but to walk with you thru it. To this end He sent the Comforter, as a consolation prize, but He is God and God is One, so you get Jesus also. The physical presence of the Messiah as the King of this world didn’t appear back then. As He told Pilate “My Kingdom is not of this world.” But it will be.

Revelation 20:2-4 will explain that millennial kingdom where Jesus will once again be in the world to reign as King of this world. In the meantime, we wait and are consoled by this great love He has shared with us and that we share with one another.

Meanwhile on earth we love one another.