Jesus, Deacon of Sin?

Paul explains to the Galatians that God doesn’t rule us as righteous based on our obedience, but through putting our faith in what Jesus has done for us (Gal 2:15-16).  It’s only because of His obedience to the law and trusting in what He has done on our behalf that we are justified (2Cor 5:21).  

A trade.  An exchange.  Let’s face it, God’s getting the raw end of the deal on this one.  But He gets all of the glory in the end.

But what if Paul’s made a huge mistake?  What if he’s got it all wrong?  What if what he’s taught the Galatians about Jesus is a horrible miscalculation?  

Well, that’s we examines next.  “But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin?” (v17).  What would it mean if Paul’s desire to be put his trust in what Jesus did on our behalf only resulted in our being sinners?  That’s the question on the table.

Remember, this goes back to Jews and non-Jews hanging out together.  God had knocked down all of the ethnic and racial walls wherever the message of Jesus was preached.  The risen Christ revealed a marvelous and mysterious new revelation of His Gospel to Paul.  

Gentiles could come to faith in Him AS GENTILES!  There are no more boundaries.  No more requirements.  No more rituals.  No more laws.  No insiders.  No outsiders.  Just one church.  One kingdom.  One family.

However, something happened in Antioch that threatened this mind-bending new reality.  The Apostle Peter was actually eating meals with Gentiles, something any Jew is his right mind would never.  It’s the new kosher!  

But when some Christian Jews hit town from Jerusalem, Pete freaked out.  He suddenly ignored his non-Jewish friends and only ate kosher meals with the Jewish posse.  This caused Paul to put his finger in Pete’s chest and call him on his hypocrisy (Gal 2:11-14).

This is the context when Paul asks the Galatians the question in verse 17.  You see, he’s been eating with Gentiles.  Hanging out in their homes.  Jesus knocked down those walls and the apostle was taking full advantage.  

But wait a second.  If these false teachers and their perverted gospel are right, then “we too were found to be sinners.”  If that’s the case, they’ve made a horrible, horrible mistake.

There’s just one problem.  Jesus personally let Paul in on His Gospel to the non-Jews (Gal 1:11-12).  If Paul’s wrong then Jesus is wrong.  Or as the apostle writes, “Is Christ then a servant of sin?”  Since Jesus did everything to tear down these barriers between  Jew and Gentile then He MUST be a servant of sin, right?  

First of all, we need to remember that Christ began chipping away at Jewish dietary restrictions during His time on earth.  Our Savior said that it’s not what we eat that makes us unclean but the filth that’s in our hearts.  Mark adds the note, “Thus He declared all foods clean” (Mk 7:18-19).  No more kosher food rules.  Later God gave Peter a vision on a rooftop in Joppa that let him know that there were no longer any difference between ethnic groups (Acts 10:9-16, 28).

So if Jesus took a bulldozer to racial walls and this was wrong there’s only one conclusion.  He’s “a servant of sin.”  Paul uses the Greek noun διακονος/diakonos.  It means a servant, helper or minister.  It’s actually the word from which we get our term deacon.  

The apostle says that if the false teachers are on target then Jesus is a deacon of sin.  I have to admit that I’ve been around some deacons that were less than godly.  But I can’t say I would call any of them a deacon of sin.  Okay, maybe a couple of them.  

Paul says that’s the only conclusion you can reach regarding if Jesus and Paul are wrong.  If Paul is wrong then Jesus is wrong.

So what’s the answer?  The Apostle Paul leaves no room for confusion.  “Certainly not!” (v17).  

End of discussion.

©2012 

Jay Jennings

An Open Book or Password Protected

“The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden” (1Tim 5:24-25).

Some folks are an open book. It doesn’t take a rocket surgeon or a brain scientist to figure out who they are or what they’ve done. They may be a train wreck of sin and stupid choices. Or they may be up to so much obvious good for others that you’re sure if you looked up “underachiever” in the dictionary, your picture would be there. 

Then there are those whose resumes are anything but obvious. It’s as if their lives are encrypted and password protected. Some people look squeaky clean on the outside but behind closed doors are a scandal looking for a place to happen. Then there are those unassuming folks who aren’t very impressive who suddenly win the Nobel Peace Prize out of nowhere. 

Here in a letter to the pastor of the church in Ephesus, Paul encourages Timothy to make sure to investigate every candidate for leadership fully. Some things are obvious. Others are not. “The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden” (v24-25). 

While this is certainly true of every person who has and will ever walk the planet, the apostle is talking specifically about people whose names are in the hat as possible elders and deacons. Paul is wrapping a section on the compensation, discipline, and selection of leaders (1Tim 5:17-22). He’s already warned Pastor Tim and the church to take their time when filling leadership vacancies. Slow is fast and fast is slow. Some things are obvious. Others are not. Trust the process. You might be surprised by what you find out. Time is on your side.

According to Paul, there are some sins and good deeds that are both “conspicuous” (v24-25). This is the Greek word prodelos, which describes something that is crystal clear, openly evident, known beforehand, blatantly obvious, easily understood, or quite plain. Outside of these two verses in this letter, we only see this word used one other time in the entire Bible. The author of Hebrews writes about Jesus’ family tree and says, “For it is evident (Gr. prodelos) that our Lord was descended from Judah” (Heb 7:14). It’s a well-known fact. You don’t need Sherlock Holmes to unlock this mystery.

For some folks, their sin is the 800-pound gorilla in the room. It’s unavoidable. What they’ve done is in plain sight for all to see. Their rebellion is blatantly evident. Even Captain Obvious doesn’t have to say a thing. It’s the sort of situation Paul describes to the multisite churches of Galatia. “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these” (Gal 5:19-21). We’re talking about behavior that lands you on the six o’clock news, TMZ, or gets its own hashtag on Twitter. Let’s be honest. That’s one time you don’t want to be trending in the Twitterverse. 

Such crystal clear crimes for some people will be “going before them into judgment” (v24). Paul’s not talking here about having to answer to Jesus for all the times we’ve turned on our backs on God. According to John MacArthur, the “judgment” here refers to the vetting process for elders in the local church. Their crimes against God are so obvious that they’ll disqualify themselves as candidates for elder or deacon before the process ever begins. The evidence is clear and overwhelming. You know how this is going down. Their sins are so blatant that it’s an open and shut case. This is like those painful performances at the open auditions for “American Idol.” Their track record makes them the William Hung of leadership candidates. It’s over before it ever starts. 

Just as someone’s bad rep proceeds them, the same can be said that “good works are conspicuous” (v25) for other people. It’s not like they’re looking to win awards or earn a medal. It’s just the result of how they help and who they help. The classic example is Mother Teresa. This humble nun had no intention of becoming the poster child of humble service and sacrifice. She dedicated her life sharing the love of Jesus by giving, in her words, “wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor.” She certainly wasn’t looking for the limelight by loving on the least of these. There’s little argument that her “good works are conspicuous” (v25).

Then there are those in consideration for leadership that we don’t know much about. Their lives aren’t so obvious. We need to ask around. We need check references. Paul tells us that the investigation of certain candidates turn up some serious red flags. “The sins of others appear later” (v24). The apostle uses a Greek verb (Gr. epakoloutheo) which means to follow along behind, come later, accompany, happen in a sequence. It literally means to follow immediately in someone’s footsteps. The  apostle Jesus called Rocky talks about how our Savior suffered, “leaving you an example, so that you might follow (Gr. epakoloutheo) in His steps” (1Pet 2:21).

In the same way, there are some of us whose sins are so obvious to the world but are hot on our tail. We may think we can outrun our crap, but it will suddenly appear in our rearview mirror. And remember, objects in mirror are closer than they appear! The slow and steady process of investigating folks as elders and deacons should make these secret sins obvious to the search committee. Check out how the Message drops this little bit of knowledge. “The sins of some people are blatant and march them right into court. The sins of others don’t show up until much later” (v24 The Message). In other words, there are times when the stench of their garbage arrives ahead of them and there are others who only stink up the joint after they get there.

But checking the background of potential leaders doesn’t disqualify some people, it also reveals the good stuff others do that we don’t know about. There are folks whose good works “cannot remain hidden” (v25). They don’t send out press releases or call a news conference every time they do something nice for someone. This is exactly what Jesus talked about on a hillside near the lake in Galilee (Mt 6:1-6). Stop showing off just so everyone can see it. Don’t alert the media each time you help a homeless person. Don’t pray out loud for the crowd if you never pray solo and alone. 

A careful inspection of leadership candidates will shine a light on how God uses these humble hidden heroes. You discover their regular and passionate devotion to Scripture. And they don’t just read it, they apply it. You discover great husbands, awesome dads, loving neighbors, and rockstars in the workplace. You discover folks who love God and love people. You discover selfless and sacrificial servants. Their good works “cannot remain hidden” (v25).

This is what happens when churches take their time in looking for leaders. When we honor this process, God makes sure the cream rises to the top. As MacArthur writes,  “Time and truth go hand in hand.” It’s critical that we use the biblical qualifications (1Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9) as the yardstick for elders and deacons. And that’s going to take time. You can’t rush it. When it comes to selecting leaders, slow is fast and fast is slow. Even the Son of God pulled an all-nighter praying about the selection of His disciples. And you thought you put a lot of work into researching your fantasy draft.

There is a bigger biblical principle here that goes far beyond looking for leaders. God will eventually reveal every single one of our secret sins. He’ll reward every act of clandestine kindness and grace. King David wrote a song about it and goes a little something like this. “He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday” (Ps 37:6). His son Solomon put his own spin on this lyric in the Book of Proverbs. “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out” (Prov 10:9). Jesus told His personal posse that His Dad is going to blow the lid off everything. “For nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known” (Mt 10:26).

So remember to take your time looking into the lives of potential leaders. Some stuff is obvious. Other stuff is not. Some people are an open book. Others are password protected. You may find out that your leading candidate is secret sinner or a hidden hero. Whatever the case, God will use the process to expose the good and bad.

Slow Is Fast and Fast Is Slow

“Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure” (1Tim 5:22).

Too many businesses and churches lose their organizational minds when they have a opening at the top. People freak out. We need a new leader yesterday!! While it’s critical to fill that position, it’s even more important to find the right person. A bad leadership choice will cripple an organization for years. The best way to find a leader quickly is to find a leader slowly.

Paul was well aware of this principle back in the first century and shares it in a letter to his protege Timothy. “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure” (v22). Filling a leadership void? Take your time. Pump your brakes. Check yourself before you wreck yourself. A quick choice of a bad leader is devastating. Sin spreads. Hearts break. People leave. If that’s not bad awful enough, you get to start the search all over again.  What seems like a painfully slow search actually saves time in the long run.

The church at Ephesus knows the pain of a bad leadership choices all too well. Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. Dropped off the t-shirt at Goodwill. It’s the whole reason Tim the lead pastor there in the first place. At some point after Paul planted the megachurch in this big port city, a team of spiritual hucksters weaseled their way into positions of influence. They sold Ephesian believers a snake oil mixture of “myths and endless genealogies” (1Tim 1:4) that led to “vain discussions” (1Tim 1:6). The apostle pulls no punches when he calls them “liars whose consciences are seared” who taught doctrine that was downright demonic (1Tim 4:1-2).

Paul gives Tim a handy dandy list of godliness and integrity to use when looking for new elders (1Tim 3:1-7) and deacons (1Tim 3:8-14). Make sure to honor those leaders who do a great job, especially as teachers and preachers (1Tim 5:17-18). Don’t mess with every accusation made against an elder if there aren’t a minimum of two witnesses (1Tim 5:19). If need be and the evidence is there, it’s time for an intervention, for the good of both the leader and the church (1Tim 5:21). Leadership is no place for prejudice or playing favorites (1Tim 5:22). 

It’s at his point that the apostle goes out of his way to point out the critical importance of taking your time when selecting your leaders. “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands” (v23). You see the physical laying hands on people throughout the Bible. It’s done for three reasons. One, as a means of blessing. Two, as means of healing. Three, to demonstrate the call to leadership. That’s what Paul’s talking about here. 

It started way back in the day when God set apart the Levites for service (Num 8:10) and Joshua as Moses’ successor (Num 27:18, 23). The first church put its paws on the original deacon team (Acts 6:3-6). Paul was on the receiving end when believers in Antioch endorsed him and his buddy Barnabas as missionaries (Acts 13:1-3). And he reminds Tim of the time when “the council of elders laid their hands on you” (1Tim 4:14).

Don’t make the mistake of thinking the laying on of hands is the transfer of some sort of mysterious mojo to the new leader. Instead this ceremony accomplishes a couple of important purposes. Those on the receiving end realize in a significant way that things in their life have changed. They’re accountable to God and His people in their new role as servant/leaders. Meanwhile the church sees this as a unified endorsement of those stepping into leadership. They’re telling these ministers they have their backs. They’ll support them in many ways, not the least of which is prayer. 

But long before you get your jazz hands ready for such a ceremony, Paul tells us to take our foot off the accelerator. “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands” (v22). When it comes to finding new leaders, take your time. We need to do our due diligence. Checking the background of a potential pastor, elder, or deacon against the biblical qualifications (1Tim 3:1-14; Titus 1:5-9) takes time. This is no time for the microwave. Selecting leaders is best done in the crockpot. Or as Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones like to sing, “Time is on your side.”

Don’t get me wrong. Leadership is critical. Any organization like a church is like plane. It can only fly for so long on autopilot before things go badly. That’s why Solomon writes, “Where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint” (Prov 29:18). While good leadership is critical, bad leadership is fatal. Don’t let the urgency of a leadership void freak you out and lead you to a decision you’ll soon regret. That’s why Solomon also writes, “Like an archer who wounds everyone is the one who hires a passing fool or drunkard” (Prov 26:10). Rash decisions lead to collateral damage. People get hurt.

Take. Your. Time. Stephen Covey says, “With people, if you want to save time, don’t be efficient. Slow is fast and fast is slow.” Slow is fast. Fast is slow. You’re inviting danger by failing to check out any leader before they serve. Just ask the folks in the Ephesian church. I’ll bet you they would do anything they could take a mulligan on their previous elder choices. Do everything possible to prevent a scandal on the front end. Slow is fast. Fast is slow.

Paul goes on to tell Tim not to “take part in the sins of others” (v22). He uses a Greek verb here (Gr. koinoneo) that means to share, have in common, or jointly participate with others. If you’ve spent much time in church growing up, you’ve heard the word koinonia. You probably had koinonia at a potluck dinner in the Fellowship Hall. But the original language has less to do with a plateful of fried chicken and potato salad and more to do with being teammates in something. The apostle is quite clear here. Don’t play for Team Sin.

So what in the world does this have to do with leadership? So very glad you asked. Paul is probably warning against the dangerous impact of leaders whom we fail to check out. When we don’t fully vet any leadership candidate ahead of time, we’re giving them the stamp of approval to continue in their sin. We’re telling them everything is okay. By doing so, we “take part in the sins of others” (v22). We also expose those under the care of the church as potential targets and victims of this unchecked leader. 

In their new position of leverage, a sinning leader could influence the other elders negatively. He has the distinct possibility of dragging the entire leadership team into his sinful activity. Just a little bit pollution has the potential to corrupt everything. That’s why Jesus warns His posse to have a zero-tolerance policy for the “leaven of the Pharisees” (Mt 16:6, 11-12; Mk 8:15; Lk 12:1). He’s NOT suggesting they go gluten-free.

Just in case there’s any doubt about the importance of sin-free leadership, the apostle tells the Ephesian lead pastor to “keep yourself pure” (v22). The grammar of the Greek has some interesting implications. The verb here (Gr. tereo) is in the present active imperative form. That simply means we can easily translate this as “keep on keeping yourself pure.” Tim’s doing a good job already. Paul is just encouraging him to keep on keeping on. 

This is NOT some sort of keep-yourself-clean-so-you-can-keep-yourself-saved kinda deal. Remember, there’s no way to make ourselves squeaky clean enough to enter God’s kingdom in the first place, much less stay that way. The only way that happens is when Jesus saves us when we trust in His sinless life and substitutionary death. He lives the perfect life we fail to live. He dies the brutal death for our sin we should have died. He rises to new life that we don’t deserve. Christ does for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves.

In telling Tim to “keep yourself pure” (v22), Paul emphasizes here is the importance of Tim’s role as a pastor for believers in the local congregation. As a spiritual leader in the Ephesian church, his personal walk with Jesus and integrity must be top priorities. As we said before, sin in such a position of influence can cause widespread damage throughout the flock. You don’t have to go into gory detail believers in this church. The evidence in Ephesus is all around them. It’s why Tim is pastor to start with. 

As a matter of fact, the entire crisis at this church is a case study in how NOT to find and fill leadership positions. At some point, people panicked when there was a vacancy at the top. Instead of doing their due diligence, they got ahead of God and quickly installed someone as an elder or deacon who had no business being there. It wasn’t long before these unqualified and unchecked leaders took down others who took part in their sin. As a result, personal purity took a backseat. A rush job to find leaders is an incredibly slippery slope. 

A leadership vacuum is wrong time to rush. Slow your roll. Pump your brakes. A quick choice of a bad leader is devastating. Sin spreads. Hearts break. People leave. If that’s not bad awful enough, you get to start the search all over again.  What seems like a painfully slow search actually saves time in the long run. The best way to find a leader quickly is to find a leader slowly. Slow is fast. Fast is slow.

When a Deacon Deacs Well

“For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (1Tim 3:13).

Success in America is all about up and to the right. Profits need to grow. Careers need to advance. Stockholders demand more each quarter. The arrows on every chart and spreadsheet must be heading higher. It’s about more. It’s about climbing the ladder. 

Funny thing in God’s kingdom. In many ways, less is more. The way down is the way up. Throughout the Bible, God doesn’t discourage greatness. But over and over, He lets us know it’s in the opposite direction from what most business consultants charge big bucks for companies to hear.

In his letter to Pastor Timothy, Paul says leaders earn a great reputation in the local church by stepping down into sacrificial service. “For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (v13). In other words, a servant earns his rep by descending into greatness. That’s when you know a deacon deacs well. 

(Let me make sure you know I didn't coin the phrase "descending into greatness." Bill Hybels of Willow Creek gets ALL the credit for that!)

Jesus is using Paul and Timothy as a tag team to get the Ephesian church back on track. The apostle planted the church a few years back on one of his Mediterranean tours (Acts 19), but a team of false teachers derailed believers by distracting them from the Gospel. Paul personally gave the boot to Hymenaeus and Alexander, two of the leading spiritual con artists in Ephesus (1Tim 1:20). Now on divine assignment up the road in Macedonia, the man from Tarsus appoints his spiritual son Tim as pastor with specific instructions to continue cleaning up the mess they’ve made (1Tim 1:3-7). 

A big part of Pastor Tim’s assignment is assembling a godly leadership team of overseers (1Tim 3:1-7) and deacons (1Tim 3:8-12). Clearly the previous administration was all about serving themselves by climbing over the followers of Jesus at the church. They were all about up and to the right. All about what they could gain. All about how they could be served. 

Paul wraps up his description of what a sacrificial service looks like. A deacon builds his rep by stepping down. They’re not cocky about what they bring to the table. You see, servants grow in their trust in Christ by watching what He does in and through them. That’s what happens when a deacon deacs well.

The apostle tells Tim, “For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves” (v13). It’s interesting to note that this can be literally translated from Greek as simply “For those who serve well” (v13). The translators of the ESV (as well as the NASB, NRS, NKJV, and others) double up on the idea of servants who are serving. 

Follow me. This might be a bit confusing. Throughout this passage, the Greek word diakonos is translated “deacon” (1Tim 3:8, 10, 12). It literally means “servant.”  But “deacon” actually isn’t found anywhere in verse 13. Instead we see just the verb diakoneo, which means “to serve.” The ESV translators drop in “as deacons” to help us understand what Paul’s talking about. It makes sense. A servant serves. It’s what they do when Jesus gets ahold of them. So if a deacon is a servant and a deacon serves then deacon deacs. Make sense?  

So deacons deac well when they “gain a good standing for themselves” (v13). Just about every Bible version you read cooks up a different wording for this phrase. Here’s why. “Gain” is the verb peripoieomai, which means to obtain, acquire, procure, or purchase. It paints the picture of getting your hands on something through a whole lotta effort. It comes with a heavy cost. It didn’t come easy. 

The only other place you find this word in the New Testament is over in the Book of Acts. Coincidentally, Paul is talking to the elders from the Ephesian church during a layover on his way back to Jerusalem. He tells them, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the church of God, which He obtained (Gr. peripoieomai) with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Jesus paid an unthinkable cost for His church. With His own blood. It certainly didn’t come easy. 

In many ways, the word “standing” is the real key to unlocking Paul’s words here. It’s the Greek noun bathmos. You can translate it as status, position, rank, or degree. But it literally describes a step or stairs leading up or down. It comes from a similar word (Gr. bathos) which can mean depth. Think sinking to the ocean floor. So it’s not a stretch to see that a deacon’s standing or status is purchased by descending into service. It comes with a heavy price tag. It doesn’t come easy. 

You might read this verse and think the apostle is encouraging a deacon to look for a promotion to elder or pastor. Why not? A supervisor is looking to move up to department head. A department head wants to be a VP. That may be the way it works in the business world but not so much in God’s kingdom. Nope. You see, a church’s view of a servant goes up as he steps down. It comes with a cost. Promotion by demotion. It’s not about what he gets but what he gives. 

A deacon also gains “great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (v13). But this isn’t just a quiet conviction in the Lord.  The word translated as “confidence” is parrhesia, which describes an openness, frankness, boldness, and courage to say what needs to be said. Jewish leaders were freaked out “when they saw the boldness (Gr. parrhesia)” Pete and John had when they told the folks about the resurrected Jesus (Acts 4:13). The writer of Hebrews uses it when encouraging us to go to God’s throne of grace “with confidence (Gr. parrhesia)” when we boldly ask for His help (Heb 4:16). This is speaking openly, publicly, plainly, and freely despite intimidating circumstances. 

Don’t think that bold faith in Jesus is just for super Christians like deacons. God encourages each one of us to speak openly and publicly about who our Savior is and what He’s done. Just to be clear, this is NOT about what we do to be saved. We can’t save ourselves. We can’t do enough good works, can’t follow enough rules, can’t earn enough supernatural brownie points to get God to let us into His kingdom. 

That’s where Jesus comes in. We can’t live a perfect life. But He did. We didn’t die a death on a cross for our sin. But He did. We didn’t rise to a new life. But He did. We trust in what He did on our behalf. Without trust in Jesus, my life is an epic fail. With trust in Him, eternal victory. It’s not about me. It’s all about Him. 

So everyone who serves does so as an act of worship to the One who has served us. Jesus is the ultimate Servant. He said Himself that He “came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45). About 800 years before Joe and Mary turned a barn into birthing room for Baby Jesus, the prophet Isaiah wrote about the suffering Servant who bore the brunt of God’s wrath for our sin (Is 52:13-53:12). 

If anyone ever deserved a life of up and to the right it was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. But His career path to the throne of heaven came by descending in service. After Christ headed back home to heaven, one of the early hit praise songs was all about how He took “the form of a servant” (Phil 2:6). If you want to know what a servant looks like, take a long look at the Lord. If a deacon is a servant, there’s no greater deacon than Jesus.

It’s easy for us to get caught up in the tsunami of achievement and advancement. For Pete’s sake, it’s everywhere you turn. But deacons have the heart of a servant. They’re not looking to climb the ladder. They’re headed in the other direction. A deacon descends into greatness. That’s how you know when a deacon deacs well. 

At Home with the Deacons

“Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well” (1Tim 3:12).

Meet the Deacon family. Dad is a hard-working dude with a ton of integrity. Despite putting in a full day on the job, he still saves his best for the fam. They’re not getting leftovers when it comes to his energy and attention. As a husband, he’s all in. As a dad, he’s fully involved. He has a strong grasp on the family calendar, commitments, and cash flow.

Paul tells Timothy that this is exactly the kind of guy you’re looking for to serve in the local church. “Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well” (v12). Deacs are faithful husbands, loving fathers, and servant/leaders on the home front. 

You’re next deacon is probably not coming from a network sitcom. Primetime is loaded with an endless parade of knucklehead husbands and incompetent dads. You know who I’m talking about. George Bluth, Sr. on Frank Costanza of “Seinfeld” fame. And of course, everyone’s favorite punchline…Homer Simpson. Hilarious? No question about it. Deacon material? I don’t think so. Think Andy Taylor and Ward Cleaver.

Paul needs his protege to immediately address the leadership void in the Ephesian church. The apostle has been cleaning up the mess left by a team of false teachers. He’s already taken out some of the trash when he sent two of worst packing, a despicable duo known as Hymenaeus and Alexander (1Tim 1:20). Now that Paul is on mission in Macedonia, he’s appointed his spiritual son Timothy as the new pastor in Ephesus. Priority one is continuing the reforms already underway (1Tim 1:3-7). 

Once the bad leaders are out the door, Tim needs to find godly folks to fill those empty seats. Paul tells him to appoint men he calls overseers (1Tim 3:1-7). Elsewhere, authors of the NT tell call them elders and pastors. It should come as no surprise that these guys have clear vision. God calls these fellas to look out for the spiritual health of the flock. 

The apostle also tells Tim to find servants called deacons. As a matter of fact, the word we translate as “deacon” (Gr. diakonos) actually means “servant” (1Tim 3:8-10). This position is open to both godly men and women (1Tim 3:11). The role of deacon is not for the faint of heart. That’s why they must be people of great integrity and faithful followers of Jesus.

(A significant amount of the following material comes from a couple of other notes I wrote previously, “The 100% Husband” on 1 Timothy 3:2 and “A Family Man” on 1 Timothy 3:4-5. That only makes sense since Paul himself is doing the first century version of cut-and-paste when it comes to the qualities of both overseers and deacons.)

First of all, a deacon should “each be the husband of one wife” (v12). Look familiar? Well it should. Just up the page, the apostle included it as a key trait of an overseer. Digging a little deeper into the original Greek reveals a few interesting and important points. “The husband of one wife” (v2) we see in the ESV literally reads “one woman man.” “One” (Gr. heis, mia, hen) describes the one and only, the single one, a particular one. A deacon is to have one and only one lady in his life. Other than his relationship with Jesus, she’s the top priority in his life. He’s a 100% husband. 

Having a singular and devoted relationship also means we need to be careful with our friendships with the other sex. As followers of Jesus, men are to see woman as their treasured sisters, not targets. Men also need to be on high alert when it comes to sharing our hurts and hopes with women friends. Part of being a “one woman man” means you don’t have a so-called “work wife.” Stop chatting online with your old girlfriends on Facebook. And yeah, you need to trash that Tinder account. Stop trying to swing like Tiger Woods (and I’m NOT talking about on the golf course!). A deacon is totally devoted and a 100% husband.

The rest of the original language in this phrase, “woman” (Gr. gune, gunaikos) and “man” (Gr. aner, andros) emphasize gender and maturity. They describe males and females old enough to be married. Why is that important? Because this really has zip, zilch, zero to say about divorce and everything to do with moral and sexual purity. There are a lot of churches and denominations who take “the husband of one wife” (v2) to mean an overseer or deacon can’t be divorced. The only problem with that is the rest of this list is all about character qualities and integrity, not marital status. 

A deacon also is a guy who’s “managing their children and their own households well” (v12). “Managing” is the Greek verb proistemi, which literally means to place before or to set over something. It conveys putting yourself in a responsibility of leadership, guidance, and care. A deacon devotes himself to guard and provide protective accountability to life back home. To paraphrase the folks at UnderArmour, deacons must protect this house.

Let’s take a quick look at how Paul uses this word elsewhere to get a better idea of what he’s talking about. Just about every time it’s all about passion, commitment, loyalty, and devotion. Every person who follows Jesus must “devote (Gr. proistemi) themselves to good works” (Titus 3:8, 14). When running down a list of spiritual gifts, the apostle says “the one who leads (Gr. proistemi), with zeal” (Rom 12:8). 

Even for rock star pastors, elders, and deacons, the church NEVER takes priority over the family. Ever. At no point in the Bible does God ever ask a leader to sacrifice his family on the altar of the church. Your wife and kids are ALWAYS your number one ministry. Keep the home fires burning but make sure it never becomes a dumpster fire. If and when your marriage and family are spinning wildly out of control, it’s time for counseling not deacon meetings.  

But don’t think this is only limited to his wife and kids. The phrase about “managing…their own households well” (v12) clearly indicates a husband and father who’s completely plugged in to everything going on at home. Is he fully involved in the family finances. Does he expect his wife to bear the full brunt of running the household by herself while he plays golf or watches SportsCenter? Does he have a clue of what’s going on with the kids at school? 

You do know why Jesus is looking for deacons who are great husbands and fathers, don’t you? The reason should be obvious. If not, it’s found back in 1 Timothy 3:5. “For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” (v5). Just as a husband and father is accountable for his marriage and family, an overseer is accountable for the church. No leadership at home equals no leadership at church.

It should come as no shock that Jesus gives us the perfect picture of what that looks like. But Christ was never married, you say. The Rabbi/Carpenter never hooked up with any lady during His 33 years on the earth because He already had a bride. His church. He was and is fully devoted to her. Paul tells the men of Ephesus that Jesus is our example of the perfect Husband (Eph 5:25-33). He loves her completely. He loves her sacrificially. He is the ultimate woman Man. Full devoted. Totally faithful. Spectacular spouse.

So a great deacon at church is a great husband at home. A great deacon at church is a great dad at home. They may make for a boring sitcom character but they’re just the kind of servant/leaders our Lord is looking for.

Serve Like a Girl

“Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things” (1Tim 3:11).

Sadly, the followers of Jesus have earned a reputation as being more than a bit chauvinistic. Some churches seem more like a boys club in the treehouse than the all-inclusive family of God. You might as well hang a “No Girls Allowed” sign on the doors to any ministry other than teaching Sunday School, working in the nursery, or serving in the Women’s Auxiliary. You might think it's a putdown to say you do anything like a girl. Think again. These ladies Paul writes about have nothing to be embarrassed about. They rock. They're tough. Go ahead. Serve like a girl. 

There’s just one itty bitty problem with that. It’s called the Bible. Specifically, the New Testament. We’re not going to go into a huge debate here over women as pastors or elders. That’s for another time and another place. But here in 1 Timothy, we read about ladies who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do the dirty work of ministry. “Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things” (v11). 

But wait just a Macedonian minute. The apostle sure seems to be talking about deacons’ wives, not sister servants. They key word here is “seems.” A closer look at the passage is going to show us he’s NOT talking about Mrs. Deacon but Sister Servant. 

Don’t forget why Paul is writing to Timothy in the first place. The church in the big port city of Ephesus was the model for congregations everywhere. If you were a first century pastor, you probably went conferences at the Ephesian church. The apostle didn’t just personally plant this church but stuck around for three years to make sure these believers got off to a great start (Acts 19:1-40; 20:30). This church had a HUGE impact in spreading the Good News throughout through Asia Minor and was a major influence on other local congregations in the region. 

But something happened after Paul moved on. A posse of false teachers weaseled their way into church family and spread a gospel that was really no gospel at all. As a result, the apostle appoints his protege Timothy as the new lead pastor. His job is to clean up the mess made by these knuckleheads and get the church back on the right track (1Tim 1:3-7).

A big part of the job is filling the leadership void left by kicking out these terrible teachers. Tim is to appoint overseers to watch over the flock (1Tim 3:1-7) and servants called deacons to handle the day-to-day grunt work in the church (1Tim 3:8-10). So far, Paul talks about the dudes doing ministry. You get the idea there’s probably going to be a lot of scratching, burping, and spitting going on. Suddenly, the apostle acknowledges the importance of women serving right alongside the guys. 

Before we go any further, I always try to be VERY careful anytime I call into question the work of Bible translators. These folks are a LOT smarter than me. They’ve devoted years to studying the text and the original languages. My observations on this passage could well be off base. But I’m not exactly going rogue with this view. Early church father John Chrysostom (c349-407 AD) and all the ancient commentators agree that Paul is talking about women serving as deacons. Modern scholars and resources like John Piper, John MacArthur, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Robertson’s Word Pictures, and the Pulpit Commentary do too. So after digging into the Greek and reading the conclusions of people throughout the past few centuries, I feel like I’m in pretty good company. Whew. THAT’S a relief!

Actually, the key words in understanding just who Paul is talking about are the first three words here in the ESV: “Their wives likewise” (v11). The first thing is that there’s no “their” there in the original language. It comes from the assumption that the apostle is talking about the deacon’s better half. So, there’s no “their” there. 

Second is the word we see here translated as “wives” (v11). This is the Greek noun gune. It’s where we get the medical term gynecology. While gune certainly can mean wife, it often simply describes a woman old enough to be married. Before Jesus radically changed his life, the apostle formerly known as Saul terrorized both “men and women (Gr. gune)” (Acts 22:4). The former Pharisee certainly didn’t limit his torture to married couples. He hunted down both male and female followers of Jesus. He was an equal opportunity persecutor. The ESV translators hedge their bet by including a footnote at the bottom of the page giving you the option of “women” instead of “wives.”

Third, is the author’s use of “likewise” (v11). In many ways, it’s the secret decoder ring in unlocking who Paul’s talking about. “Likewise” (Gr. hosautos) is an adverb describing doing something in the same way or in like manner. Back in verse 8, the apostle made the connection between overseers and deacons using “likewise.” Here verse 11, he drops again. In doing so, he introduces a third team of servants in the church, in addition to elders/pastors/overseers and deacons. Deacons should be like overseers. These women should be like deacons. They aren’t missus to their deacon misters but fellow Servant Sisters.

Need more evidence that Paul’s not talking about Mrs. Deacon? Flip over and see what he has to say about one of the key leaders in a congregation just down the road from Corinth. “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae” (Rom 16:1). “Servant” is the same word here (Gr. diakonos) that Paul uses in 1 Timothy as “deacon” (1Tim 3:8, 10). No mention of Phoebe’s deacon hubby. She’s a hardworking Servant Sister.

If you’re still not buying what I’m selling, consider this. Why would Paul hand down requirements for deacons’ wives when he doesn’t say “boo” about elders’ spouses? See what I mean? Seeing this entire passage is about servant/leaders in the local church, these ladies have to be female deacons, not their wives. Putting it all together, here’s a solid reading of the verse: “In the same way (as male deacons we just talked about) women (deacons) must be…” (v11). You’ll notice I didn’t use “deaconess.” For me it carries too much baggage of stereotypical “woman’s work” in the local church. If you’re cool with it, knock yourself out.

These Sister Servants are to be first of all “dignified” (v11). Paul uses the same word (Gr. semnos) just a couple of verses back in describing deacons who are dudes (1Tim 3:8). It means someone who’s respectable and honorable. The term also paints a picture of someone who understands the seriousness of what’s at stake. They’re not flippant. Deacons no matter their gender don’t just blow things off and believe they don’t matter. Eternity hangs in the balance.

The apostle demands that these women servants must not be “slanderers” (v11). The noun in the original language (Gr. diabolos) is not exactly something you want on your resume. It means accuser or one given to malicious gossip. The writers of the NT use it when describing Satan as the Accuser (Mt 4:1-11; 13:39; 25:42; Lk 4:2-13; Jn 8:44; 13:2; Acts 10:38; 13:10; Eph 4:27; 6:11; Heb 2:14; James 4:7; 1Pet 5:8; 1Jn 3:8-10; Rev 2:10; 12:9-12; 20:2, 10). Paul used it in both letters to Tim (1Tim 3:6-7; 2Tim 2:26). The term literally means someone who throws something over. Don’t see the connection? Think of lobbing hand grenades of gossip into the conversation. This corresponds with male deacons as not being “double-tongued” (1Tim 3:8). In other words, a female deacon must not be a slandering and gossiping she-devil!

A Sister Servant should be “sober-minded” (v11). Paul’s word here (Gr. nephalious) describes someone who is calm and collected. It’s the same requirement of an overseer (1Tim 3:2). She should have clear eyes and a clear head. She shouldn’t have any habits or addictions that cloud her thinking. This corresponds with this goes hand-in-hand with the stipulation that deacons be “not addicted to much wine” (1Tim 3:8). Again, there’s too much at stake to not have your faculties. You don’t want to make your spiritual 911 call to someone who’s wasted. It doesn’t say you can’t have a glass of cab. But if you’re going to be drunk on anything, let’s make it the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18).

Finally, she needs to be “faithful in all things” (v11). Just in case you’re wondering, this pretty much covers everything else we haven’t talked about. Not just faithful in some or most areas. ALL things. You may be wondering if Paul is talking about her own trustworthiness or her trust in Jesus. You can bet the farm he’s talking about both. No matter what’s dropped in her lap, you can be sure this lady deacon will do whatever needs to be done. You can trust her with sensitive info. She’ll be faithful get it done. She’s totally dependable. And she’s also a model of trust in her ever-faithful Savior. 

Don’t make the mistake of breezing past that last point. She doesn’t put faith in her own performance, but has totally trusts that Jesus has done for her what she could never dream of doing for herself. He lived the perfect life of obedience to God that we failed to live. He died the bloody death on a cross for our sin that we should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life that we don’t deserve. She trusts in what He’s done on our behalf.

So just who are these Sister Servants the apostle describes? Well one thing is clear. These are women of great integrity. Are we talking about some sort of super spiritual Rosie the Riveter? Not necessarily. They may not look that way on the outside, but these ladies are tough on the inside. They have the ability to get into the muck and mire of ministry and do what needs to be done. Don’t misunderstand me. They’re not heartless, not by a LONG shot! As a matter of fact, a lady deacons are willing to get dirty because her heart breaks for others. 

A couple of other translations do a great job of describing the kind of godly character needed for the job. “[The] women likewise must be worthy of respect and serious, not gossipers, but temperate and self-controlled, [thoroughly] trustworthy in all things” (v10 AMP). The paraphrase known as The Message picks up on the idea that no one is lowering the bar for ladies. “No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine” (v10 The Message).

These traits aren’t limited to lady deacons. Imagine your church being filled with followers of Jesus who are “dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things” (v11). Sounds like a fellowship filled with salt spreaders and light shiners that’s making a real difference in the community, doesn’t it? If you want to know what a mature believer looks like, find the nearest Sister Servant. Go ahead. Serve like a girl. That's a good thing.

The Deacon Test Drive

“And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless” (1Tim 3:10).

In many ways, the most important part of buying a car is the test drive. You may love the make and model, the color, and the sticker price, but that doesn’t mean jack if your potential new ride fails the road test. You don’t really know how it drives until you go for a drive. 

In the same way, the working interview is all the rage. It wasn’t that long ago when an employer examined your resume, checked all the references, and brought you in for a job interview. But these days, you can expect to do a working interview. Your potential new boss wants to see what you can do on the job BEFORE you get the job. Just as importantly, you get to see if it’s gig you’re willing to do. 

A couple of thousand years before anyone ever thought of hopping behind the wheel with a salesman in the front seat, Paul tells Timothy to do the same when it comes to serving as a deacon. “And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless” (v10). Make sure you check them out first. Consider an audition. See if they can do the job. See if they like the job. See if you like them doing the job. Take the deacon for a test drive. 

Deacons are a big part of getting the church in Ephesus back on track. A team of false teachers drove the congregation into the ditch. So Paul asked his sidekick Timothy to step in as lead pastor and get things rolling again. The list is pretty straightforward. Step one: get rid of the rest of the spiritual snake oil salesmen (1Tim 1:3-7). Step two: Find and appoint new leaders called overseers (1Tim 3:1-7) and deacons (1Tim 3:8-13) to fill the newly created leadership void. 

God calls overseers to…well…provide oversight for the church. (Impressed with that observation, aren’t you? You’re looking at years of seminary training pay off right in front of your eyes!) They watch over the flock, watch out for trouble, and look to the horizon providing direction. Overseers (AKA pastors and elders) should have mad teaching and preaching skills when it comes to God’s Word (1Tim 3:2). 

Meanwhile, deacons are to set the bar for sacrificial service in the church. The word “deacon” actually comes from the Greek word that means “servant” (Gr. diakonos). Deacons roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty allowing the elders to focus on teaching. That’s exactly how the whole deal got going in the first place back in the Book of Acts (Acts 6:2-4). The apostles got themselves overcommitted and dragged into food service when they should have been concentrating sermon prep and prayer. The church drafted the Serving Seven to take that off their plate. 

Paul tells Tim to test every prospective deacon to see if they’re up to the job. He uses the Greek word dokimazo, which means to learn if someone or something is worthwhile through actual use. You put them through the paces. In one of Jesus’ parables, He describes how a farmer turns down an invitation to the social event of the year in order to check out his new livestock. “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go examine (Gr. dokimazo) them. Please have me excused” (Lk 14:19). Hmm, would you call that going for a test cattle drive? Yeah, I was sorry about that one the moment I typed it.

The apostle is talking about the kind of testing that reveals the true quality of something. What happens when the rubber meets the road. Jesus’ kid brother James writes about how “the testing (Gr. dokimazo) of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3). In other words, your trust in Jesus gets a LOT stronger after you’ve held on tight to Him in the storm. And one day, we’ll eventually know if what we’ve done stands up to the blast furnace of God’s judgment because “the fire will test (Gr. dokimazo) what sort of work each one has done” (1Cor 3:13).  

Before giving someone the title of deacon and the church’s seal of approval, they have to “prove themselves blameless” (v10). Paul drops a term here (Gr. anegkletos) which describes someone who’s beyond reproach. It’s a compound word that literally means somebody who is unable to be called out. If you’re a fan of the WWE, you know what I’m talking about. A wrestler like the Rock or Ric Flair is standing in the ring with the mic and they challenge a rival who’s done them wrong to come out to fight right now. You’ve seen it movie westerns. One cowboy stands outside the tavern challenging the man who shot his pa to a gunfight. The person who climbs into the ring or through the swinging doors of the saloon has just eliminated himself as a deacon. 

Paul uses a slightly different term here for “blameless” (Gr. anegkletos) than he does when requiring an overseer to be “above reproach (Gr. anepilemptos)” back in verse 2. Don’t think there’s a huge difference in the integrity of an pastor/elder and a deacon. The apostle writes similar instructions to buddy Titus as he searches for overseers for churches on the island of Crete. These men need to be “above reproach (Gr. anegkletos)” (Titus 1:6-7). If we’ve done our due diligence on our deacons, we shouldn’t have to worry about seeing them involved in a scandal the next time we turn on the 6 o’clock news.

The good news about the Good News is that Christ came to make every person who trusts Him blameless as well. God promises to “sustain you to the end, guiltless (Gr. anegkletos) in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 1:8). Jesus has given Himself up “in order to present you holy and blameless (Gr. anegkletos) and above reproach” to our heavenly Father (Col 1:22). Our Savior swapped His perfection for our imperfection (2Cor 5:21). His sinlessness for our sinfulness. His righteousness for our wrongfulness. Someone once called it “The Great Exchange.” Jesus does for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves. As a result, we’re shame-free and blame-free. Blamelessness. It’s not just for overseers and deacons.

Meanwhile back in Paul’s first letter to Pastor Tim, we read that once deacon passes his working interview and proves to have integrity, leadership endorses them in their service. Think of seeing the UL tag on your new microwave or plasma TV or a great review from Consumer Reports. A deacon gets the…wait for it…God Housekeeping Seal of Approval. See what I did there?

Businesses use working interviews as part of their hiring process. Customers take their new ride for quick spin as part of buying a car. Paul says we should do the same when checking out our deacons. It’s good for the church. It’s good for the servant. Call it the Deacon Test Drive. 

The Big Reveal

“They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” (1Tim 3:9).

We live in an age of the Spoiler Alert. With smart phones and the interwebs, it’s hard to avoid finding out info too soon. Just try recording the big game while you’re out to dinner with friends and see if you can steer clear of the score before you get home. And everybody seems determined on tipping you off about the big twist at the end of the latest blockbuster when it comes to a theater near you.

But there’s one story that God’s been dying to spoil since before time began. It’s how He came to our rescue in the form of His Son Jesus. All throughout the Old Testament, He kept dropping divine hints about the One He promised to send. If you’re still in the dark about just who that is…SPOILER ALERT! It’s Jesus! We’re to read the Bible knowing how it ends. Christ is the Mystery revealed! 

Here in a letter to his protege Timothy, Paul gives very specific instructions about who to look for as new leaders in the local church. First of all, we need overseers (1Tim 3:1-7). These are men of spotless integrity who are not only scandal-free but scandal-proof in every aspect of their lives. We also need deacons (1Tim 3:8-13). These are literally servant/leaders who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty in the mess of ministry. 

After telling Tim how deacons “must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain” (1Tim 3:8), the apostle insists they must already know God’s Big Reveal in Christ. “They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” (v9). Deacons should model a personal and powerful relationship with Jesus. First of all, they understand who He is and what He’s done for us. They know the end of the story. Second, they do so with through continual confession and repentance. They keep their conscience clear through short accounts. 

Flip back a page or two and you’ll see Paul talking to Tim using these same two words “faith” and “conscience.” The apostle encourages the Ephesian pastor to be “holding faith and a good conscience” (1Tim 1:19). The man from Tarsus already kicked two false teachers named Hymenaeus and Alexander to the curb after they “made shipwreck of their faith” (1Tim 1:19-20). So be warned. It’s possible to take a vibrant trust in Jesus and crash it onto the rocks like the Exxon Valdez. 

The apostle describes deacons who “hold the mystery of the faith” (v9). So is there some bit of confidential intel the church is holding back? A secret handshake for insiders? Premium info behind a pay wall? Nope. Everything is on the table. You see, the word Paul uses here for “mystery” (Gr. musterion) means a secret once hidden that’s been revealed. It’s a revelation of something known only to God that we didn’t previously realize. Think of top secret government documents which the feds eventually declassify and release to the general public. It’s like watching “The Sixth Sense” or “The Usual Suspects” a second time knowing how it’s going to end. Relax, I’m not going to spoil the ending for you. At least not today. Don’t say you haven’t been warned. 

Jesus is the Big Reveal. He is the personal revelation of God’s grace. The Savior pulled His personal posse aside and told them how they had the privilege “to know the secrets (Gr. musterion) of the kingdom” (Mt 13:11). Paul tells his Roman friends how his message about Jesus and the Gospel is “the revelation of the mystery (Gr. musterion) that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed” (Rom 16:25-26). The apostle writes to the Ephesians about how God graciously gave him the assignment to tell non-Jews all about “the unsearchable riches of Christ and to bring to light for everyone the mystery (Gr. musterion) hidden for ages in God” (Eph 3:9).

Jesus is THE Hero of THE Story. Christ is THE Big Idea of the entire Bible. He said Himself how the very words of Scripture “bear witness about Me” (Jn 5:39) and how Moses “wrote of Me” (Jn 5:46) when he was writing the first five books of the Old Testament. If you’re scoring at home, He’s talking about Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Chew on that for a second. Jesus says the Big Mo’s point in writing what scholars call the Book in Five Parts was as a divinely inspired press release prepping the world for the coming Messiah. 

After His resurrection, the undercover Christ walked with a couple of dudes back to their hometown of Emmaus. Dr. Luke tells us how “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Lk 24:27). Think about that. The long promised One personally explaining all of the promises God made about His coming throughout the Old Testament. Don’t you known that was one of the greatest Bible studies in history! The big idea is that Jesus is THE BIG IDEA! Mystery revealed!!

Paul is talking about the mystery of placing our faith in who Jesus is and what He has done. He came to live the perfect life that we failed to live. He died the death on a cross for our sin that we should have died. He rose to new life that we don’t deserve. The King of Kings became the Servant of Servants to save you and me (Mt 20:28; Phil 2:6-11). He takes our crime, does our time, and hands us His sinless perfection and spotless obedience (2Cor 5:21). It just doesn’t make any sense. It should be the other way around. That’s what makes it such a mystery and surprise twist in the eternal story. Nobody outside of God saw this coming!

The greatest Servant the universe has ever seen served you and me. And there’s the connection with the deacons. Their very name means “servant” in the original language. They serve and do the dirty work because Jesus has done just that for us. Deacons model sacrificial service in the local church. Don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re the only ones who can do it either. We’re ALL to serve because we’ve ALL been served by Christ. So get your serve on.

Deacons are to hang onto the revelation of Jesus “with a clear conscience” (v9). Again, this idea isn’t limited to the deacs. That happens when we continually pursue our personal relationship with Jesus. We readily confess our sins. We take full advantage of the gift of repentance and turn our backs on our ridiculous mistakes and head back to Jesus. Church folks back in previous generations called it “keeping short accounts.” 

Think of sin like credit card debt. Instead of allowing it to pile up and simply make the minimum monthly payments, we take care of it immediately. By the way, don’t wait until the end of the month. Keep the account with God short by making this a moment-by-moment transaction. Jesus’ best buddy John is famous for writing, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9). Actually, Jesus paid our sin account in full with His blood. We just need to take advantage of that purchase regularly! Deacons show us how it’s done.

You’re going to struggle to avoid finding out who wins the game before you fire up the DVR. The person in the next cube is probably going to spoil the ending of that series you’re watching. But there’s one mystery God has revealed He wants us all to know. SPOILER ALERT! Jesus is the Big Reveal! Just ask a deacon. He's happy to tell you all about it.