In a whodunit mystery the reader gets to go through the same process of deduction as the protagonist throughout the investigation of a crime. Clues along the way make it possible to deduce the identity of the perpetrator before the story reveals all in the climax.

But in the Bible, the crime and perpetrator are laid bare in the first few chapters of the first book: Humans obey Satan instead of God and lose access to the Tree of Life and the Holy Spirit.

The mystery

In one verse the Apostle Paul gives it away: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Christ is in us through the Holy Spirit and we need the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5).

Whodunit

We don’t bandy about WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?). We want concrete examples, not subjective guesses. We pay attention to WDJD (What Did Jesus Do?). We read the four Gospels for the inspired historical testimony of what Jesus did during his 3-1/2 years on the earth as the Son of Man. “Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did” (1 John 2:6, Living Bible).

Actually, Jesus cared about WDFD (What Did the Father Do?). “Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (John 5:19, NIV).

And then there’s WDPD (What Did Paul Do?). Some erroneously believe the apostle to the gentiles changed everything. But Paul said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Living up to such godly standards cannot be done by human deduction. We must be called by the Father (John 6:44). Our minds must be opened by Christ like He did to disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:31). The Holy Spirit reveals the deep things of God through our spirit in man (1 Corinthians 2:11).

What joy—by revealing grace—to feel like Sherlock Holmes and find the mystery starting to become “the simplicity of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Elementary, my dear Watson!

Reveals all in its climax

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life” (Revelation 22:14).

So now the mystery only you can solve: WDYD (What Did You Do?).