Without question, the mystery of godliness is great: He was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory. ” Jesus is referred to here as "the mystery of godliness." The Greek word for "mystery" (used in this verse) is μυστήριον, which carries the sense of something essentially unexplainable. Some lexicons even suggest that the term means something that causes one's mouths to be "shut" because it is something sacrilegious to even try to convey. Thus, there is an inexpressibility in Jesus' greatness-so much so that any attempt to define His holiness and perfection would fall short and even verge on inappropriate because of its inexpressibility.
But in what sense is Jesus a μυστήριον, a "mystery"? Well, Paul seems to define that for us. He speaks of the Lord as being "revealed" or better put, "manifest" as a "human." The term "manifest" suggesting that Jesus appeared, but none who knew Him could fully grasp the "mystery" that was hidden by His human appearance. Similarly, our verse for today tells us that Jesus was "declared righteous by the Spirit." Of course, that too was a "mystery" to those who reject Him. The fact that Jesus was "seen by angels" suggests that all heavenly beings know Him and are aware of Him, even if we humans are ignorant of His divinity and greatness. Having Jesus "preached throughout nations" shows how important God feels the message of Jesus is. Thankfully, Paul could say that Jesus was "believed in" by people "around the world." And, having fulfilled His divine mission, He was "taken up in glory"-thereby offering "glory" to all who believe in Him.
While Jesus is unquestionably the "mystery of godliness," to those who believe and follow Him, Christ becomes knowable. Certainly, our full knowledge of His greatness will not be had in this life. Nonetheless, those who are faith-filled and those who seek to know and follow Him will find Jesus less of an unknowable "mystery" and more of a μυστήριον-a reverently held truth that can never fully be expressed or explained to a non-believer. As has been said "To the believer no explanation is needed; to the disbeliever no explanation will help."
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
