1. Mystery on the Border
Juan comes up to the Mexican border on his bicycle. He’s got two large bags over his shoulders. The guard stops him and says "What’s in the bags?" "Sand," answers Juan.
The guard says, "We’ll just see about that; get off the bike.” The guard takes the bags and rips them apart. He empties them out and finds nothing in them but sand. He detains Juan overnight and has the sand analyzed, only to discover that there is nothing in the bags but sand.
The guard releases Juan, puts the sand into new bags, heaves them onto the man’s shoulders, and lets him cross the border.
A week later, the same thing happens. The guard asks, "What have you got?" "Sand," says Juan.
The guard does his thorough examination and discovers that the bags contain nothing but sand. He gives the sand back to Juan, who crosses the border on his bicycle.
This sequence of events is repeated every week for three years. Finally, Juan doesn’t show up one day and the guard meets him in a cantina in Mexico.
"Hey, Buddy," says the guard, "I know you are smuggling something. It’s driving me crazy. It’s all I think about. I can’t sleep. Just between you and me, what are you smuggling?"
Juan sips his beer and says, "Bicycles." Mystery solved. In time, all mysteries will be revealed and nothing is hidden to our great God!
2. Most people like a good mystery – Columbo; Monk; Sherlock Holmes; “Unsolved Mysteries”
3. Mystery in scripture is more about secret/hidden things of God than a riddle to be solved
a. God is in charge of the Secrets
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29.29
b. He will reveal in his time
6 “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I make you hear new things, hidden things which you have not known. 7 They are created now, not long ago; before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’ Isaiah 48.6-7
4. 1 Timothy 3.14-16 (possibly taken from early hymn)
5. Some Mysteries to Consider (some with explanation; some without)
I. Mysteries About the Body of Yeshua (Jesus)
A. Mystery at the Incarnation – 100% God/Man
1. Physical Body Like Ours – John 1.1; 14
2. Tempted like we are – Hebrews 4.13
When the over-70 Ronald Reagan was campaigning for the presidency, an 80-year-old woman said to him, "Everything you said sounds fine. But what about us old folks? Haven't you forgotten us?" Mr. Reagan smiled and said, "Forgotten you? Heavens, how could I ever forget you? I am one of you."
That makes a difference. To affirm that God was in Christ is to affirm that God has become one of us. He has walked where we walked.
B. Mystery at the Ascension – a Resurrected Body
1. Returning to the Father
2. “Sat Down” at Right Hand – No Chair in MHP – work always to be done – no more
3. God came down to us – On Mt. Sinai; in Yeshua (Jesus); New Jerusalem/Heaven and Earth
4. We go up to him – Moses on Sinai; Yeshua (Jesus) returning to Father
C. Mystery of His Body of Believers – Church/Community
1. The Ideal – Powered by HS; Another type of Incarnation -- 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12.27
2. The reality
The world does not fear the church, it barely tolerates it. It considers the church no longer a player in the world affairs and only an observer.
The church is a quaint old relic of the past that lends a certain charm to a neighborhood, a holdover from bygone days, big but harmless, like a beached whale.
II. Mysteries About the Spiritual Realm of Yeshua (Jesus)
A. There is an Unseen World
1. Daniel’s “unanswered prayer”
2. Spiritual warfare – 12 For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6.12
B. HS (of that World) Justified Yeshua (Jesus)
1. Conception (Matthew 1.20)
2. Baptism – Dove and Father’s voice – two witnesses
3. In his people at Pentecost – Acts 2
a. Affirmation of who Yeshua (Jesus) IS
b. Focus on Yeshua (Jesus) is a key purpose of HS
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16.13-14
C. Angels (of that World) Interacted with Yeshua (Jesus)
1. Birth (Luke 2.8ff)
2. After Temptations – Matthew 4.10-11
3. Waiting in Gethsemane – Matthew 26.53
4. Role of Ministering Spirits – Hebrews 1.14
a. To Apostles (Acts 5.18-20)
b. To us? Why Not?
“Angel” at Fredericksburg, VA
No longer able to withstand the wrenching moans of the suffering wounded and dying Union soldiers, 19 year old Confederate Sergeant Richard Kirkland of the 2nd South Carolina approached Brigadier General Joseph Kershaw, CSA, to seek permission to go to their aid. Initially hesitant, the General acquiesced, refusing however to allow the white flag that would ensure his safety. Despite the danger, Kirkland sprang forward over the stone wall with canteens full and ventured out between the hostile lines.
At first, Federals fired upon the young man but ceased as they soon discovered his merciful intent. Then cheers rang out from both sides as the man to become known as the "Angel of Marye's Heights" offered water to one adversary after another. After helping those that he could, he crossed back to safety, and resumed his duties as a Confederate soldier defending his lines.
III. Mysteries About the Message of Yeshua (Jesus)
A. Mystery of International Exposition of Yeshua (Jesus)
1. First to the Jews – Romans 1.16-17
2. Then to the world – Acts 1.6-7
3. Near and Far – Acts 2/Joel 2
B. Mystery of the International Explosion Regarding Yeshua (Jesus)
1. Mystery of Jew AND Gentile Under One King –
9 For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1.9
2. Equality in Messiah
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; Ephesians 3.1-9
3. Exponential Growth – 3000 Jewish believers; 5000; priests; Samaritans; Gentiles
4. Example of God’s Concern – 2 Peter 3.9 (longsuffering; unwilling for any to perish)
And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever. 1 John 2.17
1. What Has Yeshua (Jesus) given?
Celsus was the first great skeptic. He once asked, "What has Jesus given to the world that that no one else has given?" Someone answered, "Himself!" Yes, that’s Jesus’ magnificent, stunning gift to the world. He gave himself! He gave himself not only in submission upon the cross but also in power in the resurrection.
2. He gave himself at the cross; in the tomb; and alive on the first day of the week
3. We remember this event – each week, not just once per year -- LS
a. Remember – Memory
b. Promise to uphold to the Covenant
