Acts 17:10-15. Knowing that the Jews in Thessalonica are after Paul and his companions, the brethren there send them away in the night to Beroea. On arriving there, Paul and the others go to the synagogue and preach. The Jews there are "more noble" than those in Thessalonica, and they receive the Word "with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so." Many came to believe, including Greek women of high standing as well as men. But when the Thessalonican Jews hear that Paul is proclaiming Jesus in Beroea, they come there and stir up crowds against him. Paul is immediately sent away by sea, but Silas and Timothy remain in Beroea. Paul is taken to Athens, where he asks Silas and Timothy to join him.

I so relate to the reaction of the Jews in Beroea to the Word! They receive it eagerly, and they begin examining the scripture daily to see if it is so. This is that puzzle-solving mind at work! I said before that I love to solve puzzles and mysteries, and the Bible is just chock full of hidden meanings, prophecies, foreshadowing, and symbols, all meant to lead us to and reveal to us the Truth - it is a divine mystery just asking to be solved!

St. Augustine said that the New Testament lies hidden in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New Testament. Even though the New Testament wasn't written yet, the Jews in Beroea are hearing it from Paul, and the realization that Jesus is the unveiling of the Old Testament is precisely what causes the excitement here. When Paul tells these Jews about Jesus and then makes the connection to the promised Messiah, I bet their brains lit up with excitement and their fingers itched to review all the scriptures for more clues that support the message. And this isn't just any mystery to be solved, this is salvation itself! It is the most meaningful mystery in the universe, the only one that really matters!

This mystery was written by our loving God even before time began. In His infinite love for us, He reveals as much of it as we need and can decipher over time, allowing us to participate in the mystery of our lives and His love until we are brought back into complete fulfillment of the greatest mystery.