In Christ Are Hidden All Treasures

During Passion Week, Jesus arrived in Bethany and stayed at the home of his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. At a dinner given in Jesus' honor, Mary took a pint of expensive perfume and anointed His head and feet. In response to objections, Jesus said her extravagant gesture foreshadowed His burial and that "wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her" (Mark 14:3–9).

Mary’s anointing of Jesus highlighted His supreme value. In Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). The whole point of Paul’s ministry was that people would come to know Christ: “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ” (vv. 1–2).

Prior to the Incarnation, God’s plan of redemption was a hidden treasure or mystery—it had not yet been fully revealed. With the coming of Christ, that plan has now been made known (Col. 1:26). The appropriate response to this truth is to live “rooted and built up in him”—that is, growing, maturing, and bearing fruit based on our union with Him—as well as “strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col. 2:6–7).

Christ is sufficient. There’s no need for additional sources of knowledge or salvation (v. 4). The “mystery religions” of Paul’s day promised exclusive knowledge to a select few, but the gospel of truth is freely available to all in Christ. Everything we need for life and godliness is found in Him (2 Peter 1:3).

Pray with Us

As we come to the end of our study and prayer this month, let’s thank God for the treasures of His Word that He reveals to us by His Holy Spirit. What a joy it is to know Christ, to walk with Him, and praise Him—a treasure beyond compare!

BY Brad Baurain

Dr. Bradley Baurain is Associate Professor and Program Head of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Moody Bible Institute. Bradley has the unique privilege of holding a degree from four different universities (including Moody). He has just published his first book, On Waiting Well. Bradley taught in China, Vietnam, the United States, and Canada. Bradley and his wife, Julia, have four children and reside in Northwest Indiana.