Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:2). Amen.
There is this handy feature in Microsoft Word. (That is not a commercial. It is just what I have on my computer for when I write something.) You can search an entire document for a particular word. You just hit “find” on this bar along the top of the page. There is even a pair of binoculars to help if you can’t spell. (There is another feature for that.) A box comes up along the side of the page. You type what you are looking for. All the times that the word appears in the text is highlighted in yellow.
If we keyed in the word “mystery” in this section of Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus, it would show up four times. That must mean that it is important. And it is.
But we have to familiarize ourselves with the meaning. It is not like a style of literature. Like a Sherlock Holmes or an Agatha Christie novel. They follow clues to solve a crime. Don’t forget the Hardy Boys—Frank and Joe. They always came through in the nick of time. Nor is it like the cartoon series where some meddling kids and their dog, Scooby Doo, figure out who the bad guy is through a series of twists and turns (even though they drive a mystery machine).
When Paul uses the word “mystery,” it is something that we would not know, or we could not know, unless God reveals it to us. And he has. It comes down to this: Jesus is the Savior of both Jews and Gentiles. Marvel at the mystery in ministry—as a result of the revelation from God and with the result of a relationship with God. We read from …
Ephesians 3:2-12
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, our Epiphany Lord,
Happy Belated Epiphany. We missed the actual date by one day. It was yesterday. Every year it falls on January 6. It doesn’t move like Easter. But even if you miss a person’s birthday by 24 hours, you insert “belated” in the wish. So Happy Belated Epiphany. But that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the significance of this holiday.
We now are entering the Epiphany season. There is another curious term. Epiphany. It signifies “to shine forth” or “to show forth.” During this stretch, we concentrate on how Jesus, the Son of God, born of Mary, is the Savior of the world, born for all. Jews and Gentiles. The apostle and the Ephesians. You and me.
That was Paul’s mission, his ministry—to proclaim Jesus to all. He wanted all to be clear—when he spoke to them or wrote to them. We have the same work as we serve people with the Savior.
Marvel at the Mystery in Ministry
1. As a result of the revelation from God (2-11)
2. With the result of a relationship with God (12)
1. As a result of the revelation from God (2-11)
They knew stars. They were astronomers and astrologers. And this one was different. The Magi connected it to God’s revealed promise that the Messiah would come from the nation of Israel (Nu 24:17). So the wise men from the east made the long journey to Jerusalem and wound up in Bethlehem. Because they had to worship the “king of the Jews” (Mt 2:2). The good news is for all. And God wants all people to be saved (1 Ti 2:4). Marvel at the mystery in ministry as a result of the revelation from God.
Paul had spent three years in Ephesus. He had plenty of opportunities to share his history with them. So he could contend as he jogs their memory: “Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you” (Eph 3:2). He compares himself to a faithful manager of a house who was responsible for taking care of those in the home. Paul didn’t hand out food, but held out God’s grace—his undeserved kindness for all people. But note that this assignment was not self-appointed. He did not take it on himself. It was God-given. God had called Paul to be a messenger to them. And not for Paul’s benefit, but for the Ephesians’.
It was God who also supplied the message: “the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly” (Eph 3:3). God had uncovered it for Paul like when someone opens a present by ripping off the wrapping paper. They reveal what is in a bag or a box. It is no longer hidden. Paul had reminded them of that earlier in his epistle (Eph 2:15). And now again: “In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Eph 3:4). The Ephesians could appreciate that Paul had put two and two together with the Lord’s help to preach to them “the mystery of Christ.”
It wasn’t that the Gentiles were ever left out of God’s plan. Isaiah instructed all to look at the light. He mentioned, “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Is 60:3). People would stream in from all over. But Paul’s point is that the mystery is much clearer now: “which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets” (Eph 3:5). The veil has been pulled back like for the opening act of a play. The stage is wide open. Think of how Simeon sang that Jesus would be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Lk 2:32).
Paul has expressed the word “mystery” twice. Now he explains it. There is an equality between Jews and Gentiles. Those are the two categories of people that the Jews lumped everyone into. It was them and then everyone else. But there was no distinction, no barrier between the two groups. In a sense, it is like a co-worker—one you work with. You are alike, the same. But the good news of Jesus changes everything. “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are …”
“heirs together with Israel” (Eph 3:6). Jews and Gentiles receive the same inheritance. There is not one bloodline or birthright. And this heritage is free. And it includes forgiveness of sins (any kind of any time) and life with God on earth and for eternity.
“members together of one body” (Eph 3:6). Jews and Gentiles form the church. And like fingers and toes, eyes and ears, work together, the body of believers perform their particular task for the good of God’s people—whether they stand behind a pulpit or sit in a pew (1 Co 12:).
“and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Eph 3:6). The angel announced it to the shepherds: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:10,11). “All the people” equals Jews and Gentiles. A Savior—that is what the name “Jesus” means. He is Christ—the One whom God anointed to speak God’s Word, sacrifice himself, and sit on his throne forever.
That good news is for us. We are co-heirs, co-members, and co-sharers. Jesus is our Savior. Marvel at the mystery in ministry. Paul adds us to the mix of the Church. What was unknown is not unfamiliar anymore. We are not on the outside looking in at others. We are on the inside looking around at each other.
Paul never forgot how unlikely of a candidate he was for the ministry. “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power” (Eph 3:7). He wasn’t groomed for that position by his peers. He was graced with it by his God. Only God could do that with his might. Paul never lost sight of how he once was an ardent persecutor (Acts 9:4). But God made him a passionate apostle. It was on the way to Damascus that God knocked him down only to build him up. The Lord had big plans for this self-righteous Pharisee. Paul was to be “his chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles” (Acts 9:15). He would open the eyes of the Gentiles to turn them from the darkness to the light, from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18). Paul was tireless in his task. He also stated it this way: “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me” (Eph 3:8). It is not as obvious in English, but Paul actually coins a word. He says that he is the “leaster”—lower than the least. But God takes such individuals, us as well, and makes us communicators. It is not complex. It goes like this: “Jesus is your Savior too.”
And that was Paul’s commission and ours: “to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph 3:8). The picture is of trying to track a child running around as he plays in the snow. You would begin to follow the footprints and then they would head off into all directions or in circles. It is that way with God. You start to consider one thing and then another comes to mind—like his virgin birth in Mary’s womb, his perfect life in our place, his innocent death in our stead, his magnificent resurrection from the grave, his glorious ascension into heaven. All of that to make us rich (2 Co 8:9).
Or Paul conveys it in another way just like when you turn on a huge floodlight on your garage to illuminate the whole driveway: “and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things” (Eph 3:9). He brought to light that the One who started the universe from nothing also saved it in Jesus. And all according to plan: “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph 3:10,11). God’s intelligence is many-sided like a diamond. You can turn it in different directions and marvel at its various facets.
Who would have thought of a plan to take away our guilt by putting it on his Son? God did.
Who would have thought of a way to make those dead in sin alive in Christ? God did.
Who would have thought of using us to communicate peace with God and a place with God. God did.
The angels longed to look into those things as God unfolded his rescue mission in Jesus (1 Pe 1:12). They praised the Lord for it on Christmas night: “Glory to God in the highest” (Lk 2:14). And they smile every time a person turns from his sin to his Savior or from her shame to her salvation (Lk 15:7). And that is in, and only in, Christ Jesus our Lord. Marvel at the mystery in ministry as a result of the revelation from God. We are part of God’s church.
2. With the result of a relationship with God (12)
Can you imagine it? Grown men on their faces before a baby (Mt 2:11). But not just any baby. Jesus. The psalmist Solomon sang about that: “All kings will bow down to him” (Ps 72:11). And then out of gratitude, they offered him gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. So happy they were to adore the Christ-child. Not just the Messiah, but their Messiah. Marvel at the mystery in ministry with the result of a relationship with God.
Paul ends with a reminder that trust in Jesus leads to a privilege with God. “In him [that is, in Jesus] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (Eph 3:12). We are free to speak to God and tell him anything in our hearts and everything on our minds. We can march right up to his throne of grace and request whatever we want as boldly and confidently as dear children ask their dear father (Luther’s Explanation to the Address of the Lord’s Prayer). It is similar to a son not hesitating to hound his dad for a certain Christmas gift. God doesn’t see it as a bother when we draw on that blessing. And he will hear and he will help. Marvel at the mystery in ministry with the result of a relationship with God. We are part of God’s family.
If you do a word search in Scripture, you will find that “mystery” comes up more than in the verses before us. But it is always the same. It is not something to guess at, but something to be grateful for. Marvel at the mystery in ministry as a result of the revelation from God. And marvel at the mystery in ministry with the result of a relationship with God. All people can call God Father and call on their Father in Christ Jesus. Happy Belated Epiphany. Amen.
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love (Eph 6:24). Amen.
January 7, 2018
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