From Jacob Wright (5/11/2016):

In Ephesians 3, Paul the apostle writes about "the mystery of the ages" which has been withheld for generations past but has now been revealed, and Paul's responsibility is to make it known to the world. This is massive.

To shine a little light on the massiveness of this, let me put this in different words, Paul is saying that what all religions and philosophies have been trying to get at since the beginning of time, the revelation towards which the whole cosmic process is unfolding, the answer to the question of existence, what all people everywhere have pondered and wondered about since the beginning that has been withheld through history past, has been unveiled. The mystery of the ages.

Paul declares that this mystery of the ages is "Christ in you, the hope of glory." To put this in perspective, let's understand what "Christ" meant. Yes, Jesus was revealed as the Christ, but we must be aware that the word Christ did not immediately signify Jesus. It signified a role, an office, an occupation. This occupation of "Messiah" was seen in various ways, most prominently as a man that would come and overthrow the oppressive powers, bring justice to the nations, and establish Gods kingdom on earth, resulting in the restoration of all things. With that definition of "Messiah" in mind, now we can understand partly the radical thing Paul's readers would imagine when Paul told them, "This is the mystery of the ages: Messiah in YOU!"

Paul has already said elsewhere that he preaches "Christ crucified", a shocking and subversive statement that is basically to say the Jewish warrior to come and subjugate the nations and make Jerusalem the headquarters of Gods worldwide rule? Paul preaches him nailed to a tree, and that this is the true power and wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1). Of course, "Messiah nailed to a tree" is not the entire conclusion of the message, because we do have the theology of the cross and why it is significant, as well as the resurrection which vindicates the crucified Messiah, but you can imagine the shock effect that Paul is attempting here by saying it.

So back to "Messiah in you", what Paul is doing here is revealing something about this man Jesus. Now let's understand who Jesus is. This man Jesus that came amongst us, that walked in perfect sonship and union with the universal Papa, healing the sick, casting out demons, binding up broken hearts, and declaring his Abbas indiscriminate, inclusive love for all, showing that the kingdom was all around us and within us and coming to make the world right, and was finally nailed to a cross in a self-giving act to expose the systemic injustice and violence that the world runs on, reveal the forgiveness of his Abba, and reconcile the whole world to God: Paul is saying this man Jesus is more than just the historical figure that was here in the flesh, but he is a universal, cosmic reality that is within all of us. Christ is much bigger than the few years he spent as a flesh and blood man. He is our universal origin, in whom we live, move, and have being. He is the mystery of the ages, now disclosed, Christ in YOU. The flesh and blood years were for a revelation of who this cosmic Christ is. This mans "ascension" actually carried with it this cosmic implication, for when he "ascended", it signified a cosmic filling as he "poured his Spirit out" on all flesh to reveal his Body on earth: us.

Jesus said that it is better for him to leave. Why? Because when he leaves, he pours himself out, his very Spirit, so that now the mystery of the ages is revealed, "Messiah in you." This is not a cute idea or a cliche. The idea that we are now Messiahs body on earth was not spoken of as a traditional idea like we hear it now, but a radically empowering message concerning who Christ has revealed us to be. Jesus is revealing our true identity as sons and daughters of God. This is more than just Jesus living inside of you. When we think of Christ in us, I feel as if there is still this sense of distinction and separation, like yes, Jesus is in me, but he's still Jesus and I'm still me. He's just inside of me. I want to suggest that Paul is saying something much more radical than that. We are Christ's very body. Paul says "You are one Spirit with the Lord." Paul isn't just saying that Jesus lives inside of you, Paul is pointing you back to your true identity, the image of God.

In the garden, we were the image of God, and what is the Son called? "The image of the invisible God". "The radiance of the Fathers glory." The image of the invisible God is within you, the radiance of the Fathers glory. You bear the image of God, which means you bear Christ. Christ is what makes you human. You are restored to your true identity, Christ, the image of God. Christ is your true identity. It's not just a smiling Jesus waving from inside sinful disgusting you. It's the very character, radiance, image of God, brought back to life within you. Christ within you! Paul even says "It is no longer I who even live!"

It's Christ who lives within him. And you. And me. It's our true identity. Jesus as the Son reveals our proper relation to the universal Papa. We are in him and he is in us.

In the fall, the image of God was marred beyond recognition, and the marring of Christ was the marring of the image. But the image rose, and the image triumphed, and the image was restored, because the image is Christ. And the image is us.

So why did Jesus say it would be better for him to leave? Because the cosmic implications of his "ascension" meant the shedding abroad, the pouring out of himself, his very Spirit, on all flesh, for the revelation of Christ in all, the image of God, the radiance of the Fathers glory in all, and the formation of his Body on earth. So when we see each other, we see Jesus, we see the image of God. We are the body of Christ, the body of Messiah on earth. Jesus says "As I am, so are you in this world." (https://www.facebook.com/jacobmawright/posts/10153781346774387)

 

Jacob's post reminds me of some thoughts I had about the sacrament prayer. "We ask thee in the Name of Jesus Christ..." is it a name we are invoking, or is it the meaning of the name we are invoking? The meaning of the name of Christ is Yehoshua (god saves) Messiah/Christ (anointed with light).

Jesus was anointed with Light. The Light he always deferred to was his Father. He was the perfect manifestation of the Father. The scriptures say every man is born into the world with the Light of Christ. What was the Light of Christ? He said His light was the Father. "I can of mine own self do nothing, but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." (John 5:30, 14:10)

We are each anointed with the light of the Father (in his house there are many mansions, or tabernacles, or Temples of God). It is his spirit that animates us, give us power to live and move. But in our fear and our fall, we have hidden our natural state from ourselves.

Is the bread and wine blessed because we say the name of Christ, or because we are asking, ourselves being "in the name" or, in other words, are we are anointed with Light? Which light was salvation for Christ, and is salvation for us.

"Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved; Wherefore, all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day." (D&C 18:23-24)

 

The scriptures talk about us being the temple of God as if it was a given fact, and the only question is whether we defile the temple or not. I think our anointing with light is not something we have to seek to receive, so much as we have to stop denying. We have to become like little children again, throwing off our false idols, going back to the garden state. I believe we defile our temple primarily by ceasing to be like a little child, by raising false images of perfection, or false images of God.

When Laman and Lemuel were "shocked" they were horrified that something was coming to light out of them, or their "center" which they had suppressed for so long by their traditions. When the Nephites at the temple bountiful heard the voice out of the heavens, it "pierced them to the center" and caused them to quake and tremble. It manifested to them a voice that had to strain to hear, "towards the sound thereof" or as Moses put it "away towards the garden". There is a Cherubim and a flaming sword which guards the way of the Tree of Life, because no man or woman can partake of the tree save he confronts the cherubim and the sword, which is the sword of truth that cuts both joint and marrow, or, in other words, to our center.

Three all become one. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The Father, the perfect manifestation of the Father or the Word of the Father made flesh, and the rest of us trying to work it out, trying to also become the Word made flesh.

 

See Also

Article: The Name of Christ