The mystery of godliness (7) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.
1 Timothy 3:16.

The mystery of godliness (7)
The mystery of godliness ends with the statement that Christ was received in heaven in glory. It is the climax of the description of the Lord's piety and of great significance for a godly life.

The words "received up" in the New Testament frequently describe Jesus' ascension (e.g. ; Acts 1:2). His ascension was no great public spectacle: the world saw nothing of it. However, all in heaven was involved.

Christ's resurrection revealed God's essential character. It was as if the Father had set all in motion to snatch His Christ from death and raise Him over everything else. "He who descended (into the lower parts of the earth) is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens" (Ephesians 4:9.10).

The ascension is God's response to the cross and the atoning sufferings of the Son of man. "If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself" (John 13:32). God would not wait until the Millennium to glorify Him; He did so at once, only forty days after the resurrection.

In Israel the cloud was the visible sign of the presence of God. There was also a cloud at the ascension: it took Jesus away from the eyes of the disciples. It reminds us of the cloud at the mount of transfiguration, from which the voice sounded, saying: "This is my beloved Son. Hear him" (Luke 9:35).

The ascension of Jesus: what an impressive manifestation this is of the honour God places on His Son!

(concluded)

Today's reading: Nehemiah 9:26-38 · Proverbs 15:12-22