In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ …
- from Ephesians 3:4
 
Near the center of Paul’s message in Ephesians is the revelation of a tremendous mystery about the gospel of Jesus Christ (a mystery we’ll look at in depth tomorrow). Today, however, we want to look at the nature of mystery in the Christian faith.
 
Our faith is full of mystery. How can we have one God but also the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? How can Jesus be both fully God and fully human? How can evil be really evil if God is both good and powerful? Mystery. Mystery. Mystery.
 
The ancient world had mystery religions around every corner. Religious gurus shared secrets with their disciples and led them to broader and higher levels of enlightenment (often for an … “ahem” … small financial donation). The Gnostic religion was one such religion that flourished around the time of Christ, and many attempted to twist and distort Christianity into one of the pay-for-play mystery religions.
 
But Paul didn’t want the Christian mysteries to be held in secret as copyrighted proprietary instruction. He wanted everyone to talk about these great mysteries.
 
We may never fully plumb the depths of the mysteries of God, but we’re encouraged to try. God invites us to jump on in, to swim as deep as we can, to come up for air when we must but to dive back in for another try once we catch our breath.
 
How do you respond to the mysteries of God? What mysteries of God most fascinate you? Which ones frustrate you? How do you tend to interact with them?