(based on a series by Tom Ellsworth)
SERIES: “DISCOVER JESUS: The Other 3:16’s”
TEXT: 1 TIMOTHY 3:16
TITLE: “THE UNIQUENESS OF JESUS”
OPEN: A. Scripture tells us:
1. Col. 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another
with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts
to God.”
2. Eph. 5:19 – “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make
music in your heart to the Lord.”
B. I want some audience participation this morning
--What are some of your favorite psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs?
C. Why are these songs important to you?
--one or more of the following reasons:
1. The psalm, hymn, or spiritual song has ministered to you at some point or another in your life
2. The psalm, hymn, or spiritual song bring back pleasant memories
3. The psalm, hymn or spiritual song conveys a great truth or truths about God the Father, God the
Son, or God the Holy Spirit
--or at least great truth about how God works in the lives of those who will follow Him
D. The passage we’re looking at this morning is considered by theologians and scholars to be part of a
song used by the church in the 1st Century
--several passages in the New Testament are thought to be parts of early hymns as well
1. Phil 2: 5-11 – tells how Jesus took on flesh and became a servant; one who was obedient to the
Father’s will even to the point of death
2. Eph. 1:3-14 – talks about our spiritual blessings in Christ
3. 1 Cor. 13 – “The Love Chapter”
4. Rom. 8:31-39 – If God is for us, who can be against us? What can separate us from the love of
God?
5. I find another passage that was probably part of an early Christian hymn
a. Eph. 5:14 – “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
b. It was probably used at the end of the sermon.
E. We are going to hear the words of this song together because it’s a beautiful song about Christ
1. But before we listen, let me ask you something
a. Have you ever heard a great song that just totally moved you – so much that you wanted
someone else to hear it and catch its beauty and meaning exactly as you did?
b. But when you played it for them they weren’t ready to hear it so they didn’t listen well and
they missed it?
--Or it just didn’t strike them the way it did you?
2. Please listen to this song very closely
--I really want you to get it
3. 1 Tim. 3:16 – “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed
on in the world, was taken up in glory.”
4. In this study of “The Other 3;16’s”, we’ve looked at several 3:16 passages that teach us about
Jesus:
a. 1 Jn. 3:16 – “The Love of Jesus”
b. Lk. 3:16 – “The Power of Jesus”
c. Acts 3:16 – “The Name of Jesus”
d. Col 3:16 – “The Encouragement of Jesus”
5. Today we’re looking at the uniqueness of Jesus
a. The word unique means “one of a kind; nothing else like it.”
b. That was the point John was making in Jn. 3:16 when he referred to God’s “one and only son”
--Jesus is one of a kind and no one else is quite like Him
6. In our passage this morning, Jesus’ uniqueness is spelled out in a poetic manner that made it
easier to remember
F. As a musician, one of the things that I’ve learned to do is take a song and break it down into it’s
component parts, and then reassemble it so that I know the song and its message intimately
--I invite you to join me in that process this morning
I. THE MYSTERY
A. What is a “mystery”
1. A mystery can be something that remains unsolved
a. No one knows the answer and the answer may never be found
b. Here are some examples:
1). What happened to Amelia Earhart when she disappeared over the pacific ocean on her around
the world flight in 1937?
2). Was there a gunman behind the grassy knoll on the day President Kennedy was assassinated?
3). What happened to the 2 ½ ton steel wrecking ball that was left hanging from a crane 200 feet
above the ground by the laborers for the Dowling Construction Company in Indianapolis in
1974? When they left, the ball was 200 feet in the air. When they returned to work the next
morning, crane was still in the air, the wrecking ball was gone and was never found
--Who steals a 2 ½ ton steel wrecking ball?
2. My friend, Bryan Sanders, shared a story with my study group about a group of students creating a
mystery in a high school in Montana. These students played a prank. They let three goats loose in the
school.
Before they turned them loose, they painted numbers on the sides of the goats: 1, 2 , & 4. Was
their math off? No! The school administrators spent most of the day looking for goat #3.
3. Those of us who enjoy reading or watching good mystery will tell you that a mystery only a mystery
until the case is solved
--Enough research is done, enough facts uncovered, enough lab work and detective work completed to
put the pieces of the puzzle together
4. In the 1st century, a mystery was something that was hidden
a. It was more like a secret that had to be revealed
b. In fact, their concept of a mystery was that it was something you could only know IF someone let
you in on the secret
B. Why is the gospel a mystery?
1. God was known only because He revealed Himself to humans
a. Is. 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the
LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my
thoughts than your thoughts.”
b. 1 Cor. 2:7-10 – “No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God
destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they
had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen,
no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’ — but
God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.”
2. For the prophets of the Old Testament time period the story of God’s plan for the ages remained a
mystery.
--They preached about coming events that they could not fully comprehend because the whole picture
had not yet been revealed to them
3. But when Jesus came, the mystery of godliness was revealed uniquely through Him
a. Jn. 14:9 – “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
b. Col. 1:15 – “He is the image of the invisible God …”
c. Heb. 1:1-3 – “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in
various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all
things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the
exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
II. THE MAJESTY
A. His visitation
--“…He appeared in a body…”
1. It’s what we celebrate at Christmas
--God becomes human
2. Jn. 1:1, 14 – “1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
“14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the
One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
B. His vindication
--“…was vindicated by the Spirit…”
**Vindicated means “to be shown innocent or righteous”. Another way of saying it would be to say
that His claims were not false but proven to be true.
1. At His baptism
a. Mt. 3:16 – “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was
opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.”
b. Jn. 1:32-33 – “Then John gave this testimony: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove
and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with
water told me, The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize
with the Holy Spirit.’”
2. By His Father
a. Mt. 3:17 – “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well
pleased.’”
b. Mt. 17:5 – “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud
said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’”
3. By miracles
a. Jn. 2:11 – “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus
revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.”
b. Jn. 3:2 – “He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come
from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with
him.’”
4. Ultimately by His resurrection
--Rom. 1:4 – “…and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of
God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
C. His visualization
--“…was seen by angels…”
1. Ray Stedman says that the word “seen” here literally means “eyeballed”
--that the angels watched and studied Jesus all the time. They were constantly vigilant to where He
was and what He was doing
2. Angels are an important part of the Gospel narratives
a. The announcement that he would be born
b. His actual birth
c. Warning to Joseph to flee to Egypt
d. Announcement that all was clear to return to Nazareth
c. His temptation in the wilderness
d. His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane
--Lk. 22:43 – “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.”
e. Absent at the cross
1). When Jesus was arrested, Peter pulled his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high
priest. Jesus told Peter in Mt. 26:53-54 – “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will
at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the
Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
2). I think of the old song: “He could have called ten thousand angels, to destroy the world and
set Him free. He could have called ten thousand angels, but He died alone for you and me.”
f. There at the resurrection
g. There at his ascension into heaven
--The angels are there announcing that He will return in the same way He left
h. Angels worshipped him. Fallen angels, demons, recognized him as he walked this earth. An angel
will blow a trumpet to signal his Second Coming. In Revelation, we are given a picture of Jesus,
surrounded by angels and the redeemed, being worshipped in Heaven.
D. His vocalization
--“…was preached among the nations…”
1. Jesus ordered us to proclaim him among the nations
a. Mt. 28:19-20 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
b. Mk. 16:15-16 – “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be
condemned.’”
2. That is what was started on the day of Pentecost and continues today
a. Rom. 1:8 – “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being
reported all over the world…”
b. Col. 1:6b– “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing
among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.”
E. His validity
--“…was believed on in the world…”
1. Jesus was not just a Jewish Messiah
--His salvation is for all who will believe; including the Gentile people
2. Over 190 times, from Isaiah to Malachi, the prophets tell us that the Messiah will judge between the
nations, or that the nations will worship him, or that he will save the nations.
3. The gospel of Christ is believed on because it is a gospel that works in the lives who those who will
trust him
--the impact of those transformed lives is felt across the entire world
F. His veneration
--“… was taken up in glory…”
1. The life of Christ did not end upon the cross but began again at the resurrection and today he sits at the
Father’s right hand awaiting the time to return.
2. Jesus prophesied in Mt. 26:64 – “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man
sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
3. Stepehn, Acts 7:56 – “‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right
hand of God.’”
3. Heb. 7:23-25 – “ Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from
continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is
able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for
them.”
III. THE MEANING
A. I don’t know if you noticed but there is a pattern to the words of this hymn
1. This pattern is known as a chiasm
--so called after the Greek letter Chi – which looks like our letter “X”
2. If you’ll look closely at the style of the verse, there are three comparisons
--six lines arranged chiastically – they contrast back and forth like an “X”
a. From the earthly (flesh) to heavenly (spirit)
b. From the earthly (nations) to the heavenly (angels)
c. From the earthly (the world) to the heavenly (glory)
3. The uniqueness of Jesus is that no other person has transcended both heaven and earth
a. Jesus is both God and man,
b. Spiritual and physical
c. Of this world and the world to come
B. His uniqueness means that we have some pretty unique things in Christ::
1. A unique grace
a. Christianity is the only religion in the world that operates totally from a basis of God’s pure
grace.
b. In every other religion, humanity must do something to appease God
--in Christianity God took the initiative to pay the price of our sin.
c. He invites not to appease, but to accept.
--That is a unique grace!
2. A unique purpose
a. Because of what Jesus did, we have a purpose that goes beyond this world.
b. When I speak of the world in terms it being bad, I do so in contrast with the perfection of what
will be.
c. For most of us our lives in this world are really good – I enjoy life here, don’t you?
1). I just know that at any moment it could change
2). I want to know that my life has meaning and purpose beyond the good times at the moment.
d. In Christ, when the tough times hit, life is still good!
3. A unique hope
1. There is an intriguing painting on display in the Louvre in Paris. It portrays the legendary
German magician Faust who bartered away his soul to the devil and he is sitting across from
Satan at a chessboard. Satan is gloating over what appears to be the checkmate of Faust’s king.
The magician’s expression is that of a beaten man.
According to an often told story, a chess master who was visiting the gallery paused to study
the painting. After several long studious moments he pointed at the painting and said, “It’s not
over. The king and the knight have another move.”
2. Two thousand years ago, it appeared that humanity was beaten, but God said, “It’s not over – the
king has another move.”
--And move He did! Because of Him, our hope is real!
C. The ultimate meaning behind it all is four-fold:
1. Because Christ was revealed in flesh, we know that God shares our human joys and pains and can
speak with authority to them.
2. Because he was vindicated in spirit, we know he is victorious over any sinister and dark forces that
rule those who do not know him.
3. Because he was proclaimed among the Gentiles and believed on in the world, those thought to be
outside God’s favor, we know he will always love and have a special spot for those outside the
elite and important.
4. Because he was taken up in glory, we know that we will meet him there.
CLOSE: A. Mystery of godliness
1. Paul tells us that he is speaking about the mystery of godliness
2. What is godliness?
a. It’s general usage means reverence, piety, or religiousness
b. It’s literal meaning is to behave in a way that glorifies and honors God
3. Paul says it’s a great mystery
--so, lay it out Paul. What’s it all about – this godliness?
4. Notice what Paul doesn’t mention:
a. Godliness is not about lists and rules
b. Godliness is not about religious acts
5. But Paul says that godliness is revealed in Jesus Christ
a. 1 Tim. 3:16 – “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a
body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”
b. Paul puts it this way in Col. 1:26-27 – “…the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and
generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known
among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory.”
--Is Christ in you?
B. A couple hundred years or so ago in Europe, the custodian (also called a Sexton) of a beautiful
cathedral was putting things in order for the next days worship. This Cathedral was widely
renowned for its beautiful pipe organ, and it seemed the entire from of the stage was dominated
with the pipes of the organ.
On this particular Saturday, the custodian was disturbed to see a visitor enter through the doors
and approach him. The stranger wanted to know if he could look at the organ which he had heard
so much about. The sexton was not sure he wanted a stranger to get so close to their celebrated
instrument, but he conceded as long as this man didn’t touch it. The visitor went over to the organ
and lovingly took it in its beauty, and then he pleaded that he be allowed just to play it for a short
while. Annoyed, the custodian almost turned down this request. But something in the man’s eyes
and manner changed his heart and he allowed that this man would be allowed to play, but only if
he returned all the stops to their positions when he finished.
The stranger seated himself at the organ and began to play, softly at first and then building to a
powerful crescendo. The custodian was startled to hear such beautiful music coming from the
pipes and for a time he lost himself in the flow of its emotions. All too soon, the organist was
finished, putting the stops back again and was walking down the aisle to leave. “Wait,” cried the
sexton, “that was the most beautiful music I have ever heard. What is your name?”
The stranger turned and smiled. “My name is Felix Mendelssohn (one of the greatest composers
of the day).Commenting later to a friend, the custodian said “Just think, I almost kept the master
from playing his music in my cathedral.”
