December 30
Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery
Over the past month you probably had the opportunity to wrap a lot of presents. Some presents are easy to box up, fitting neatly under the paper or in the gift bag. Other presents, however, are hard to package. Due to their unique size or shape, you were not sure how to cover them.
I was thinking about that reality as I listened to today’s song, “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery” by Matt Boswell, Michael Bleecker, and Matt Papa. This song describes a number of the truths about Jesus that are hard for us to wrap up inside our logical minds. Just a few of the “mysteries” of Jesus mentioned in this song:
- “The theme of heaven’s praises robed in frail humanity.” – The Son of God being hungry. The Son of God needing a nap. The Son of God needing His mother’s care. These realities are hard to imagine.
- “In His living, in His suffering never trace nor stain of sin.” – We do not know any person who is without sin . . . yet Jesus was perfect! What must that have been like to be around in His earthly ministry!
- “In the stead of ruined sinners hangs the Lamb in victory.” – Calling the embarrassment and pain of a public crucifixion a victory seems crazy . . . until we think of what Jesus accomplished through that act – the salvation of His people!
- “Slain by death the God of life.” – How does the eternal Son of God die?
These realities are rightly called a “Wondrous Mystery” by the hymn writers. They also remind us that our brains are not smart enough to wrap up all of who God is in neat and logical paper. God is so great, that His actions and identity simply are beyond our ability to completely package. Rather than throwing out the gift of Jesus because it does not fit in our box, we are encouraged through this song to wonder at it – to embrace it by faith, and draw comfort from the fact that He is truly an awesome God.
Where are you having a hard time reconciling God’s actions or identity today? Does His timing seem off, His plans seem unwise, His identity seem illogical to you? Rather than throwing Him away, sit in the mystery and worship the One who is greater than you.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery – Matt Boswell
Come behold the wondrous mystery
In the dawning of the King
He the theme of heaven’s praises
Robed in frail humanity
In our longing, in our darkness
Now the light of life has come
Look to Christ, who condescended
Took on flesh to ransom us
Come behold the wondrous mystery
He the perfect Son of Man
In His living, in His suffering
Never trace nor stain of sin
See the true and better Adam
Come to save the hell-bound man
Christ the great and sure fulfillment
Of the law; in Him we stand
Come behold the wondrous mystery
Christ the Lord upon the tree
In the stead of ruined sinners
Hangs the Lamb in victory
See the price of our redemption
See the Father’s plan unfold
Bringing many sons to glory
Grace unmeasured, love untold
Come behold the wondrous mystery
Slain by death the God of life
But no grave could e’er restrain Him
Praise the Lord; He is alive!
What a foretaste of deliverance
How unwavering our hope
Christ in power resurrected
As we will be when he comes
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