David Bahn – Reflections

Ephesians 3:11-13

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

We were in the pit which is believed to be the place of Jesus’ holding on Thursday night – the night of his betrayal. It is located in the basement of Caiaphas’ house – below the area where prison cells are located. Accessible now by stairs, but at that time – according to our guide – only by means of a hole in the ceiling the prisoner would be lowered into deep darkness. As I read Psalm 88 for our group, the words took on new meaning. When I read the concluding line of the psalm, “my companions have become darkness,” our guide (who had slipped out of the area) turned off the lights in the pit. It was a stunning experience. New meaning is forever attached to that psalm.

Now I read that Paul’s sufferings were for the glory of the Ephesian believers. He wants them to know how deep his love for them is, and that his suffering should bolster their faith and embolden their witness. If that’s true for Paul and the Ephesians, how much more is it true that Jesus’ sufferings are for our glory. He suffered because he loved us so (and still does!). That is our glory. We have been redeemed. Someone has gone to great lengths to rescue us. We are the prize of God’s rescue. That gives us great status, powerful confidence, and bold power against any evil power that we might ever face.

Ephesians 3:1-13

¹ For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

 ⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.