In Matthew 13:10-11, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” and He answered, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” The Greek word used for “mysteries” refers to something that was once kept secret, but now is open knowledge (Rom. 16:25-27). Therefore, what are these mysteries that were once hidden, but now have been revealed?
The Mystery of Israel’s Unbelief (Rom. 11:25). The Jews never imagined that they would reject the Messiah, especially because they longed for His coming. In fact, Jewish mothers hoped their sons would be the Christ, but God knew that when He sent the Anointed One, the Jews would deny Him.
The Mystery of the Incarnate God (Col. 2:2; Eph. 1:9). The Jews looked for a great military leader, a political Savior to rescue the people from the oppression of the Roman government. They never dreamed that their King would be God in the bodily form. This was in the plan of God before the foundation of the world, but it was hidden until the resurrection of Jesus. Now, it can be openly proclaimed: The Christ is none other than God in a human body (1 John 1:1-4).
The Mystery of the Indwelling of Christ (Col. 1:26-27). The Jews looked for a Messiah to sit on the physical throne of David in Jerusalem, but God always intended for His Son to sit on the throne of our hearts as He lives within us (Gal. 2:20).
The Mystery of Immortality (1 Cor. 15:51-53). There were certain Jews that did not believe in the resurrection, Sadducees. The Greeks believed that the body is evil, and that death sets us free from the prison of the body. Paul corrected these belief sby revealing that one day God will give every person a spiritual body that is incorruptible and immortal.
The Mystery of the Indestructible Body of Christ, the Church (Eph. 5:29-32; 1:23). The Jews believed that the Messiah would re-establish the physical kingdom of Israel, but God always intended for our Lord Jesus Christ to establish His church, the spiritual kingdom (Matt. 16:18-19). As we live what we learn in the gospel (Matt. 28:18-20), we make known to our communities one of God’s greatest secrets, the mystery that we make up the body of Christ and work together to accomplish His purpose in the world.
-John Garza