The Plan Is a Person

This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph 3:11).

People always want to know the plan.  They want to know God's purpose.  What's the meaning of life?  What's our particular purpose on this planet?  Paul tells us that it's no secret.  It's all "according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord" (v11).  What's God's plan from the beginning?  There's probably a better way to ask it.  WHO is God's plan?

His Plan is a Person.  Jesus Christ.

The apostle first writes to his friends in Ephesus about "this" (v11).  What is "this"?  "This" is God's outlandish plan to combine His chosen people with Gentiles into His church (Eph 3:1-9).  Jews and non-Jews.  Haves and have nots.  Insiders and outsiders.  This divine plan is so out there that it's turning cities upside down all around the Mediterranean rim.  This divine plan is so off the wall that it's landed Paul behind bars in Rome.  In the words of the great philosopher and ghostbuster Peter Venkman, "Dogs and cats living together.  Mass hysteria!"  That's what happens with "this" happens.  "This" is what happened when the man from Tarsus spent three years telling folks about Jesus in Ephesus.  Jews and non-Jews.  Haves and have nots.  Insiders and outsiders.  All called together into one church.

If "this" is the result, what's the cause?  I'm so glad you asked.  It's all because of God's "purpose" (v11).  This is the Greek noun prothesis.  This term describes a plan, will, goal, aim, design or a setting forth in public.  The word is from a root that means to place something in view before you and plan in advance.  Later Paul will use it when he encourages his boy Tim to keep on keeping on.  "You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life (Gr. prothesis), my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness" (2Tim 3:10).  The apostle has been VERY public about his aim and his purpose.  And guess what.

The Plan is a Person.  Jesus Christ.

Earlier in this note to the Ephesian believers, Paul reminded them that as followers of Jesus we have been "predestined according to the purpose (Gr. prothesis) of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will" (Eph 1:11).  And it's key word in one of the most power-packed verses in the entire Bible.  "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Gr. prothesis)" (Rom 8:28).

Ultimately, God's purpose is to bring glory to His own name.  He's the only one in the history of the universe who deserves any credit, any applause or any fame.  He's not some egotistical deity demanding acclaim.  Only He's worthy of any honor.  The accolades are rightfully His.  But here's the cool part.  Whatever brings God glory also brings us good.  This didn't happen by accident.  It was all part of His plan from the beginning.  

And that Plan is a Person.  Jesus Christ.

Paul can't be any more obvious about God's plan: "He has realized in Christ Jesus" (v11).  He's already made that point in the open of this letter.  This is all "according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ, a plan for the fullness of time" (Eph 1:9-10).  Jesus is the plan.  Jesus is God's eternal purpose.  Right after our first parents completely jacked up God's perfection creation, one of the first things Yahweh mentions is One who will come to rescue, restore and redeem.  God warned the sinful serpent, "He shall bruIse your head, and you shall bruise His heel" (Gen 3:15).  His plan from before the beginning of time has been to save everything through this Headcrusher.

This Person-focused plan runs like a red ribbon all throughout Scripture.  The plan is the point of God's covenant promise to His man Abraham.  The plan is the point of God's pledge to Moses.  The plan is the point of God's commitment to place one of David's descendants on the throne forever.  This Person-focused plan is THE point of the entire Bible.  Even Jesus says so.  "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me" (Jn 5:39).  And just in case we missed His point, Christ grabs us by the shoulders and says when Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, "He wrote about Me" (Jn 5:46).  There's ONE Hero of the story.  There's ONE Plan.  There's ONE Purpose.

And that Plan is a Person.  Jesus Christ.