Section 20: Mystery?
During the ministry of Christ, his disciples preached the Gospel of the Kingdom without teaching about his sacrificial death. They never thought that such a thing would happen.
"He sent them to preach the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:2)
"Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying and it was hid from them that they perceived it not." (Luke 9:44)
Had the apostles understood the things spoken by Jesus, his death would have confirmed their belief that he was the Christ.
"For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead" (John 20:9)
"These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they these things were written of him, (and of his death also), and that they had done these things unto him." (John 12:16)
After Christ's ascension to heaven, the Spirit revealed this mystery of the Gospel to the apostles before they resumed their preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom:
"...The mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles..." (Ephesians 3:4-5)
"The preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest." (Romans 16:25,26)
"The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest" (Col 1:26)
The prophecies concerning Jesus Christ that have been fulfilled are the facts embraced in the Gospel of the Kingdom; the mystery made known is an important theme connected with the gospel.
"Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 28:31) see also Acts 8:12.
The conditions of salvation are based upon the revealed mystery.
SUMMARY
- Aspects of the Kingdom of God involving Jesus were a mystery to the world until the apostles' day
- The Apostles received an understanding of the mystery of Christ
- What was once a mystery is no longer a mystery
- God has revealed His plan slowly through the ages
- The revelation is complete
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