paradox
Paul describes the mystery of faith (or piety, godliness) as the revealed mystery behind all things - the person of Jesus Christ. In 1. Timotheus 3,16 Paul wrote: And great, as everyone must confess, is the mystery of faith: it is revealed in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, appeared to angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed in the world, received into glory.
Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, can be called the greatest paradox (= apparent contradiction) of the Christian faith. And it is no wonder that this paradox - the Creator becomes part of creation - becomes the source of a long list of paradoxes and ironies that surround our Christian faith.
Salvation itself is a paradox: sinful humanity becomes righteous in the sinless Christ. And even though we still sin as Christians, God sees us as just for the sake of Jesus. We are sinners and yet we are sinless.
The apostle Peter wrote in 2. Petrus 1,3-4Everything that serves life and godliness has been given to us by his divine power through the knowledge of him who called us by his glory and power. Through this, the precious and greatest promises have been given to us, so that you may share in the divine nature, having escaped the corrupting desires of the world.
Some paradox with Jesus' unique work on earth for the benefit of all humanity:
- Jesus started his ministry when he was hungry, but he is the bread of life.
- Jesus ended his earthly ministry by being thirsty, and yet he is the living water.
- Jesus was tired and yet he is our peace.
- Jesus paid tribute to the emperor, and yet he is the rightful king.
- Jesus cried, but he wipes our tears.
- Jesus was sold to 30 Silverlings, and yet he paid the price for the salvation of the world.
- Jesus was slaughtered like a lamb, and yet he is the good shepherd.
- Jesus died and destroyed the power of death at the same time.
For Christians too, life is paradoxical in many ways:
- We see invisible things for the eye.
- We overcome by surrendering.
- We govern by serving.
- We find peace by taking on Jesus' yoke.
- We are greatest when we are the most humble.
- We are wisest when we are fools for Christ's sake.
- We become strongest when we are weakest.
- We find life by losing our lives for Christ's sake.
Paul wrote in 1. Korinther 2,9-12But it has come to pass as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.” But God has revealed it to us through his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows the thoughts of a person except the person’s own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given to us by God.
In fact, the mystery of faith is great. Through the Scriptures God has revealed Himself as the one God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And through the Son who became one of us to reconcile us to the Father who loves us, we have fellowship not only with the Father but also with each other.
by Joseph Tkack
