The Treatment through three verbs
First verb: Receiving (2)

The Apostle Peter compares between us and the prophets of the old testament and between us and the angels saying "Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to them, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into” (1Peter 1:10-12).

The salvation we received is the salvation that the prophets in the past, were searching and looking for; Prophets like Moses, Daniel and Isaiah did not only prophesy but also looked for and searched.

The Apostle Peter wrote in the verse 11 of chapter 1: “searching what or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them.” And that what Daniel did. Moses was looking for God’s glory; he said:  “show me your glory” (Exodus 33:18). Isaiah also prophesied saying:  “who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? … But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:1,5). Isaiah might have asked: “Who are they to whom the arm of the Lord will be revealed?!”

This shows our position and value to the Lord; it was revealed not to the prophets but to us; they were serving on these events that He revealed to us and not to them; those prophets have only seen shadows, they searched and did not receive, they looked but did not enjoy; they have only witnessed and prophesied.

It is written about Moses that he “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt” (Hebrews 11:24-26). Dear reader, Compare between us and Moses; we have not examined and searched and have not said “show us your glory” but the contrary, we said to Him: "Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of your ways” (Job 21:14); we are not ”searchers” but “receivers”; we have received the person that has been written about: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

How big is the difference between us and the prophets of the Old Testament, for one has searched and then said: “Nor is there any mediator between us, who may lay his hand on us both” (Job 9:33); now stop searching, for “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews1:1,2).

Our Lord, All glory to Him, compared us with John the Baptist and said about him: “Among those born of women there has not raised one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11); we do not deserve the dirt that John Baptist tramped on; but he was among the prophets who searched and looked for but did not receive; for the fullness of the time has not come yet.  “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:4-7). So, are you aware of the worth and value of what we have received as we are now God’s children, redeemed by His blood; How great is the Grace in which we stand.

Magdy Samuel