This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Summary: Mysteries are mysterious for a reason. Paul seems to be pointing us to the answer to the mystery while, at the same time, asking us to solve it.
… and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
Summary: Paul explains the point of the mystery he has been letting us about. He points us to a promise made by the Son of God. We can have true life if we accept him as our Lord and King.
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel …
Summary: Looking back over the history of the Israelites, it is easy to see why the idea of God extending salvation to the Gentiles seemed like a “mystery.”
Summary: Some mysteries can be solved with good detective work. Others, like the mystery of God’s will, is beyond us, until God, in his timing, decides to explain.
So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
I was watching a murder mystery on television the other night. At the end of the story, we discover the antagonist is an older woman who was spurned by her younger lover. She had killed the young man and ten years later killed three more times to protect her secret. When caught, she reveals that the reason she killed him was that he was unfaithful. “He was so depraved!” she complained. I marveled at the fact that her character could not see her own depravity.