Ephesians 1:9
“He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him”
God is amazing. His creation is so intricate and beautiful. It all could be it's own painting. Nothing is half evolved, but perfect. His plan of salvation was designed by God and executed by Jesus.
Obtaining our salvation was much too difficult for us. We could pay for our sins, but we would be in hell for eternity doing so. Jesus served time for each of us beginning in the Garden of Gethsemane and ending with "It is finished" on the cross. The suffering was too great for us. But Jesus, the God-man did it.
We saw His reticence when He said, "Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me", (Matthew 26:39). He knew there wasn't another way, He was expressing how terrifying it would be and that He was afraid. God's wrath was poured out on Him at this point or shortly after this.
The suffering that Jesus endured was evil's hour. It's as if the champs hands were tied and the masses got to beat on Him. The devil and his demons threw everything they had. It was necessary to pay for our sins. We are so sorry Jesus.
The next part of the mystery of His will was rising from the dead. He had told this to the apostles many times and to the world through cloaked terms. "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again", (John 2:19). None of them understood it. The apostles thought God's plan was thwarted. They sunk into depression and fear. Seeing Him lifted this.
Jesus told them the next part of the mystery in John 16:7, "But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." This was fulfilled at pentecost. The Holy Spirit filled and empowered each of them. Jesus was limited to one place at a time while on earth, the Spirit was not. He's with each and every one of us that ask Him to be.
Here's what Paul says about this phase in Romans 8:11, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." This is the born again experience. He gives life to us.
This is because we are reconciled to God. The barrier of sin is gone. He is in and with us. God's plan to have a people that would walk with and love Him has been restored. Here's a verse from the hymn Blessed Assurance, "Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior, am happy and blessed. Watching and waiting, looking above. Filled with His goodness, lost in His love."
Lord, thank You for Your mystery. We are so blessed to be in relationship with You. Thank You Jesus for executing the plan.