MYSTERION NOT MYSTERIOUS

Friday 27 June

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Matthew 13:11 (KJV)

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 1 Corinthians 2:7 (KJV)

Have you ever heard some one say to you ‘the Lord works in mysterious ways’? They speak it with such confidence that you think it is in the Bible somewhere. Where did it actually come from? It was written in 1773 by English poet William Cowper and it contained this full line; ‘God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.’

Fast forward 252 years later and there are still people that believe it today. Just because it has been a long held belief by many Christians does that give it any more weight? Just because everybody is doing something doesn’t mean we should all blindly follow along with the uninformed crowd. The last 5 years should have taught us all that.

So the question remains; is God mysterious? Does He work or move in mysterious ways? As always let’s see what the Bible has to say.

What if I told you God was not mysterious. He in fact IS the MYSTERY to be REVEALED in Christ .

“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know THE MYSTERY OF GOD, namely, CHRIST, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” Colossians 2:2-3

The Old Testament or what we refer to as the scriptures which are Genesis to Malachi, is the MYSTERY of Christ.

The New Testament or what is known as the epistles which is from Acts to Revelation is the REVELATION of the MYSTERY of Christ. So the Bible is essentially in two parts. The first requires explanation the second is spoken in plain language that needs no interpretation, provided that you can interpret the Old Testament scriptures in the New Testament correctly.

Why did the Old Testament and the gospels need to be communicated in parables, types, shadows, figures of speech, symbols, metaphors etc?

After Adam fell, man was cut off from God and spiritual realities, so Jesus had to speak in parables or stories which included types and shadows, symbols and metaphors to the unbelieving Jews. Remember Jesus was talking to spiritually dead people.

In Psalm 78:2 Asaph writes of Jesus, ‘I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,’

Jesus confirms this in His ministry. ‘So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

Parables are dark sayings for those who are darkened spiritually. They were spoken to hearts that were hardened and unbelieving. Parables are mysteries and mysteries are parables.

Mark 4:11 reinforces this truth. ‘And He said to them, “To YOU it has been given to KNOW the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables…

The word ‘mystery’ here and ‘mysteries’ in Matthew 13:11 is ‘musterion’ in Greek. It denotes something that has to be explained. Something that has a meaning that is not known. It is a hidden meaning that requires further explanation at a later stage.

Can you see how problems can arise when Christians who are spiritually enlightened take parables literally? The truth is you will always end up in error.

Jesus said about the disciples, it is given to YOU to KNOW the mysteries of the kingdom. Think about it. After they were all born of the Spirit you don’t see any of them speaking in parables in the epistles.

Parables are for those who are outside, not inside the kingdom.

In John 16:30 after Jesus resurrection his disciples noticed that even Jesus’ mode of communication had changed.

‘His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!’

The writings of the Apostles make known to us the hidden truths that are in the Old Testament scriptures about Christ.

Where are the mysteries of Christ made known? In the epistles. The New Testament. Everything that Jesus wanted to say clearly and plainly has been said in the writings of the Apostles particularly from Romans to Jude. Acts is more of a doctrinal transition and Revelation is based on a vision.

The greatest mystery that was ‘hidden from ages and generations has now been revealed to His saints; Christ in YOU the hope of glory!’

Now, do you still think God is mysterious?

APPLICATION

Go through all the scriptures in this devotion to have a greater understanding that Christ is the mystery that has now been revealed.