7-30-19 Today in the Word

Zechariah: Return to the Lord
IN CHRIST ARE HIDDEN ALL TREASURES
Sunday, June 30, 2019 | Colossians 2:1–7

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).
APPLY THE WORD
Mary’s act revealed her true treasure! If “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hidden in Christ, then the way to wisdom is through a relationship with Him. As we close this month’s study, reflect on Christ as your treasure and the power of this image in Scripture. How is God guiding you to respond to what you’ve learned?

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