The Christmas Carols: Past, Present, & Future HopeSample

Day 30

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery

Read: Isaiah 55:8-9

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.

I was thinking about that reality as I listened to “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.
• “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!
• “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 packaging. God is so great that His actions and identity simply are beyond our ability to completely understand. Rather than throwing out the gift of Jesus because it does not fit neatly in a 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.

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.