Stained glass at St John the Baptist’s Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus’ description of himself “I am the Good Shepherd” (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: “To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Studies in Ephesians – Ephesians 3:1-13
A – D – M – I – T
See also: Heb. 10:19; Ps. 8:4; I Peter 1:12; Rms. 8:29-30; Micah 6:8
Accomplished – v. 11 – Someone may say God does things not In my time but in the right time. God worked a great work of salvation at the right time.
Discouraged – vs. 1, 13 – Paul knew the Ephesians might be discouraged when they heard that he was imprisoned. Like the student I knew, Paul would say, “It’s all good.”
Mystery – vs. 6, 9 – Ephesus was a city of mystery religions. Its religious patrons were longing for a mystery to be revealed. In the gospel of Jesus there was a revelation even Angles longed to peer into. The mystery was just this: Jesus loved even me. He loves all, and he offers to save those who come to him.
Intent – v. 10 – If God’s plans seemed to be a mystery in the past, they were now being made known. God’s intent was declassified. God intended that all be saved.
Threshold – v. 12 – The law of six says we are only six steps away from anyone. We may feel very far removed from some persons. We may feel so removed from God that we cannot bridge the gap. By the grace of God we can approach the throne of God through the blood of Jesus. We can do so with boldness and confidence.
Exemplary story: The story is told that Uncle Zek would stop to visit his sister on his way to the park. Little Sammy, his nephew, would ask if he could go to the park. He did not even know where his uncle was going, but he just wanted to go. Uncle Zek would say, “No, you’re too little.”
This routine went on for some years as Sammy continued to grow. When he was ten Sammy said, “Uncle Zek, can I go to the park?” Receiving the familiar answer Sammy was ready with a comeback. “Uncle Zek, I’m a big boy now. Why can’t I go?” Uncle Zek replied, “Sammy, you wouldn’t understand the price of admission.” This was a mystery to Sammy.
Time went on. Sammy grew, and he went away to join the army.
Sammy was a grown man on furlough when he next saw Uncle Zek. He had forgotten their conversation, but his uncle had not.
This time Uncle Zek started the conversation by inviting Sammy to go to the park. Sammy agreed, and they both piled into Uncle Zek’s old pickup.
Sammy never knew where his Uncle had been going. He just knew he wanted to be with the old man. At first they didn’t have much to say. They just enjoyed riding together on highway. Then Sammy popped the question. “Uncle Zek, after all those years what made you change your mind?”
“Young man,” he said, “I believe you now know the price of admission.”
As he said these words the park came into view, and then Sammy knew. Uncle Zek parked his truck and they both got out and stood quietly in front of row after row of headstones at Arlington National Park.
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