Have you ever watched the plot unfold in a mystery and realize you are totally clueless about what will happen next? I am drawn to movies like that because just when I think I have it all figured out there is a twist in the plot.

Paul describes God’s plan of salvation for both the Jews and Gentiles as a mystery. The word mystery is mentioned six times in the book of Ephesians. In this context, mystery refers to content which was not known before but was revealed to a particular group.

In verse 6, Paul explains this mystery, “that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” This had been God’s plan from the beginning or, as Paul puts it, “for ages past.” But only now was it being made “plain to everyone” (v. 9).

Can you imagine what it must have been like for those of Jewish and Gentile descent when this mystery was finally revealed? The plot of God’s divine purposes must have left them dumbfounded. Ephesians 2:15–17 tells us: “His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” When we think about the hostility that once drove these people groups apart, this mystery ought to leave us in awesome wonder! Through Jesus Christ, God brought us together as one.

God’s plan had an unexpected, but joyous ending. We can be thankful to God that we are included. What was once hidden is now a joyful reality (v. 10).

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