Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery

According to the writers, this modern hymn took shape mostly on a two-hour plane ride from Louisville to Dallas in late 2012. The final version was finished two months later, in January 2013. There are over 160 scripture references that support these lyrics. It truly is a fantastic song.

For some context, let me direct you to 2 Corinthians 3 where Paul is calling on the Christian Jews in Corinth to realize the temporal glory of the law of Moses had ended and the permanent glory of Christ had begun. N.T. Scholar Paul W. Barnett writes, “Paul is making two closely related points. On one hand, he is referring to Moses’ own words that the people willfully failed to comprehend the meaning and significance of God’s rescue of them from Egypt. On the other, Paul is implying that, because of this, God did not let them understand the promises made under the Mosaic covenant which would be fulfilled in Christ.” He says, “The veil, which in Moses’ day prevented the Israelites seeing into the glory behind it on Moses’ face, now lies over their minds preventing them seeing out to the glory in the Scriptures, which they regularly hear. It is only in Christ (vs 14), in whom the promises made under the old covenant are fulfilled and whom the apostles proclaimed that the veil is removed.”

From that base, Paul writes in vs 18, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the spirit.” It’s almost as though Paul wants to shout from the rooftops, “COME BEHOLD!”

 

Verse 1
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry
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

Verse 2
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry
He the perfect Son of Man
In His living in His suff’ring
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

Verse 3
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry
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

Verse 4
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry
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 deliv’rance
How unwavering our hope
Christ in power resurrected
As we will be when He comes

 

Imagine the moment of joy when a person suddenly sees what they’ve been missing. This song is not simply for us to sing amongst ourselves as we worship but to proclaim to the world. A world that, as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:4, is blinded by the god of the world. For them, the veil of blindness still exists. Paul writes in vs 6, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

This song brings out such beautiful imagery! It’s the Gospel laid out before us, reminding us of His light, His sacrifice, His loving grace and mercy, and finally, His life that is now ours! What a wondrous mystery indeed!


 

 

 

  •        Barnett, Paul. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 17 Apr. 1997.
Location: Athens, AL, USA

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