Isa 63:15-64:9; 1 Tim. 3:1-16; Mark 11:27-12:12
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
(1 Timothy 3:16)
"The mystery of godliness" -
The RSV read "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion:..."
Paul uses this term, godliness, in that phrase from 2 Tim. 3 that we considered last week, "holding the form of religion (or appearance of godliness) but denying its power." Here, he uses it immediately after writing
"I am writing to you these things so that, if I delay, you may know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth" (vs. 14-15).The instructions, so far, have included prayer and leadership.
But lest they, we, miss the point; lest we get sidetracked by important instructions about behavior in God's household; lest in seeking to be faithful in the church of the living God which is indeed a pillar and buttress of truth, we miss the mystery long hidden and now revealed; Paul shares that mystery in what seems to be a short creedal statement or hymn.
Great is the the mystery of godliness, or of our religion; great is the secret of living out this faith through our behavior as God's people, God's family, God's church; the great mystery is this: "He..." The great mystery was manifested in the flesh... The great mystery is no longer a mystery! He was manifested, vindicated (in his resurrection), seen, proclaimed, believed on, and taken up in glory. He is Jesus the Messiah the Lord.
Let me bring this quickly to the point, I think. All of this right order of prayer, leadership, etc. for those who name the name of Christ called out and gathered together as his church, is for one thing - that the mystery be manifest. That the truth be not merely a pillar and buttress but also a living, breathing, loving, healing, world-changing reality. As we considered last week, the very purpose of godliness, piety, religion, is to connect us with the power which is God, to be transformed into the Image in whose image we were made. Jesus himself is the great mystery (cf. Ephesians 1:9-10), and the mystery who is great. While he does remain hidden from so many (as we studied last night in Matthew 11:25-29), and the revelation of him in the heart and mind of a person is sheer grace and gift, still it is the call of his followers, his church, to reveal him to the world in word and in deed. Of course, that is precisely the point of being a disciple: to become just like the master...
Hear our prayers, Father. Have mercy on us. Make us like your Son.
But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
(Isaiah 64:8)
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