A Mystery Revealed

Reflection

After searching for a half an hour, a mother finds where her toddler has hidden her glasses. Working on a secret case for twelve years, a man finally completes a CIA mission. Whether the challenge is as trivial as locating a pair of glasses, where what was concealed is found, or as large as solving an involved CIA investigation, where seeming impossible questions are answered, mysteries have been solved.

In Luke 9:44, 45, Jesus made a prediction that the disciples didn’t understand; his meaning was hidden from them and they were afraid to ask about it. Following his death and resurrection, they would understand.

Our passage today tells us that God has revealed to us the mystery of his will. What  was hidden has been revealed to us in Christ. God’s plan and our place in that plan is now known; the price for the forgiveness of our sin has been paid on the cross.

As if that is not enough, there is more! The Old Testament prophets spoke of the coming of God’s kingdom—but how would it come, who would bring it, and when was it coming? The unknowable has been made known to those whose faith is in Jesus. Jesus came to usher in the kingdom of God, and in his time, he will bring all things in heaven and on earth together under him. It is no longer a mystery—God’s people know what the future holds. At a perfect moment in time, all of heaven and earth will be brought into unity under Christ.

This Lent, while we take time to consider the wonder of God’s gift in his Son for each of us and thank him for his work done for and in us, let us also remember that the mystery revealed goes far beyond individuals. All of creation, with eager expectation, waits with us for the day when the glorified Christ returns and brings unity to all things in heaven and on earth (also see Colossians 1:19, 20).