Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

“25 . . . according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages.  26 But is now disclosed and through the prophetic Scriptures is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, [to win them] to obedience to the faith.” Romans 16:25-26 (AMP)

mystery – secret; something hidden by God for a set time

Maintaining a secret, especially a sweet secret, is sometimes a personal struggle. That is to say, ‘though I am able to hold it, I so desire to share the joy thereof. Hence, when I think about the grace of the Sovereign Lord God Almighty and particularly His “plan” concerning Jesus the Anointed One and His Anointing (Ephesians 1:9-10, Colossians 1:26 & 2:2-3, Revelation 10:7) from “before the world began” 2 Timothy 1:9 (MEV), such overwhelms. For surely, had the devil known that The Passion of The Christ was the Father’s plan for the propitiation of our sins once for all, never would he perpetuate the steadfast resentment and hate that propelled the religious leaders’ plot to kill the Lord Jesus for nothing He had ever done (Romans 3:25, John 15:18-25, Matthew 12:14, John 11:45-53). Perhaps needless to say, in the knowing that God is Omniscient, it should neither surprise that He would know exactly how the first Adam would utilize free-will; nor that Yahweh Yireh/Jehovah Jireh would have provided for our every need even before the foundation of the world. Nevertheless, for me, it is the silent and secret of plan for our reconciliation unto God the Father through Christ Jesus that is awe inspiring (for lack of a better descriptor). Of course, there was never any real danger of this specific secret being revealed too early because the prophetic WORD given by the Holy Spirit wasn’t believed. That is, a significant number of people didn’t have “ears to hear”, others killed the Prophets, and still others refused to believe anything other than their own script as to how the Messiah would look and act. Yet the Lord Jesus kept His Message quite simple (John 12:44-50). Yes, the last Adam – this JESUS, never said a mumbling word (Isaiah 53:1-12). Regardless of what “the people” deemed fit to do with His life (Luke 4:28-30, John 6:14-15 & 7:1-52), the Lord Jesus resolutely set His face like flint and walked in perfect obedience to the will of God the Father by sacrificing His sinless life giving Blood (Luke 9:51, Matthew 26:42, Luke 22:42, John 12:27). Dead and buried but made alive by the Spirit, the Lord Jesus entered into hell, preached therein (1 Peter 3:19), and took back the keys of death & Hades (Revelation 1:18). And the same “immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of God’s power” exerted by the Holy Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:19-20) now dwells within all in Him (Ephesians 3:20). No longer a mystery, such was the plan of GOD just because of love (John 3:16 & 15:12-17).

Speak the promise . . . Harriet