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     In the previous article, we considered the fulfilled Old Testament prophecies of Jesus as the revealed mystery mentioned many times in the New Testament.  They were even a mystery to the very prophets who gave these prophetic revelations — “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you… to them (prophets, JM) it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven- things which angels desire to look into” (1 Peter 1:10,12).  Even though the prophets spoke the mystery, they did not have a clue to the meaning of the prophecies.

     In his second epistle, Peter continued to focus on this prophetic mystery — “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:19-21).  Obviously the prophetic mystery did not originate with men, but came from the mind of God.

     As we recently considered, this mystery is the entire scheme of redemption in Jesus, which is completely different from the Old Covenant practiced by the Jews for some 1500 years.  Part of the revealed mystery is Jesus setting aside the OT when He died on the cross (Colossians 2:14).  No one is subject to the that Old Covenant which Moses mediated between God and ancient Israel.  No one!

     The apostle Paul wrote, “by revelation He made known to me the mystery,… the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:3,4).  Is there more to the mystery than Jesus — God coming in flesh to fulfill the law according to the Old Covenant, thereby becoming the acceptable sacrifice for man’s sins.

     Paul had also written about this mystery to the church at Colossae — “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).  What would be the significance of this mystery to the Gentiles?

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