O Jesus, how can we, in all our limitation, use language to express love to You, You who are love? Before the creation of time and space, all we perceive with our senses, You were in loving relation within the Trinity. And You knew what was coming.
In love You created, in perfection, this existence. We were not there (Job 38-39) Yet for Your own purposes, to exalt and reflect Your own glory, You created this realm. And You knew what was coming.
You gave us, allowed us the freedom to turn from You, despise You, reject You, to deprave all Your creation (Gen 3; Rom 8) And You knew what was coming.
We went our own way – in one sense as evil and separated as we could be, in another sense sinking further into the mire of our profanity, generation after generation adding to the wall of enmity between You and us (Gen 6, 22) And You knew what was coming.
You chose a man (Gen 12), a people (Deut 10.15; 1 Pet 2.9), even individuals after Your own heart (1 Sam 13.14). Yet we rejected you, all of us, person by person (Rom 3.23). And You knew what was coming.
At just the right time, You became as we are, that we might become as You are (Athansius, On The Incarnation, Section 51; 1 Cor 5.21; Phil 2). Why would You do this? We were already Yours (Ps 50), You created us. Yet because of who You are, to be “true to Yourself,” to reflected Your holiness, to be both just and justifier (Rom 3.26). And You knew what was coming.
You loved to the extent to send Another Comforter, Advocate, Indweller (John 14, 15). You thought even of us (John 17.20). And You knew what was coming.
In pain and rejection You lived, bearing our scorn (Is 53). You were executed, and the eternal love in Trinity was severed for one incredible, solitary, unimaginable moment (Mat 26.46).* And You knew what was coming.
Depravity, separation, death could not grasp you, but was compelled to release its icy grip (Act 2.24) in acknowledgement of Your victory, though it would not admit or acknowledge its utter defeat. And You knew what was coming.
You again called Your people, and gave us Your Spirit (Acts 2). You, the Lover, took us, having purchased us back (Hosea 3.1), to be Your beloved (Eph 5.25). And You knew what was coming.
Jesus, we want to have our lamps ready (Mat 25), awaiting with eager, expectant longing and anticipation (eros) Your victory celebration (1 Thes 4.17) and the wedding feast You are preparing for us, Your beloved bride (Rev 19.6), when the twisted values of this world become straight, and our earthly prizes become as common rock (Rev 21.21). And You knew what was coming … because You are already there, both alpha and omega, beyond time as both beginning and ending (Rev 22.13).
Jesus, You are our beloved (Song 2.16), and we long for that day!
* I am aware of the potential theological difficulties with this statement. My purpose in writing is poetic, not strictly philosophic. I affirm the unity in the Trinity. On this difficulty, consider this article (and to further qualify, I do not agree with other positions of the article's author).
In love You created, in perfection, this existence. We were not there (Job 38-39) Yet for Your own purposes, to exalt and reflect Your own glory, You created this realm. And You knew what was coming.
You gave us, allowed us the freedom to turn from You, despise You, reject You, to deprave all Your creation (Gen 3; Rom 8) And You knew what was coming.
We went our own way – in one sense as evil and separated as we could be, in another sense sinking further into the mire of our profanity, generation after generation adding to the wall of enmity between You and us (Gen 6, 22) And You knew what was coming.
You chose a man (Gen 12), a people (Deut 10.15; 1 Pet 2.9), even individuals after Your own heart (1 Sam 13.14). Yet we rejected you, all of us, person by person (Rom 3.23). And You knew what was coming.
At just the right time, You became as we are, that we might become as You are (Athansius, On The Incarnation, Section 51; 1 Cor 5.21; Phil 2). Why would You do this? We were already Yours (Ps 50), You created us. Yet because of who You are, to be “true to Yourself,” to reflected Your holiness, to be both just and justifier (Rom 3.26). And You knew what was coming.
You loved to the extent to send Another Comforter, Advocate, Indweller (John 14, 15). You thought even of us (John 17.20). And You knew what was coming.
In pain and rejection You lived, bearing our scorn (Is 53). You were executed, and the eternal love in Trinity was severed for one incredible, solitary, unimaginable moment (Mat 26.46).* And You knew what was coming.
Depravity, separation, death could not grasp you, but was compelled to release its icy grip (Act 2.24) in acknowledgement of Your victory, though it would not admit or acknowledge its utter defeat. And You knew what was coming.
You again called Your people, and gave us Your Spirit (Acts 2). You, the Lover, took us, having purchased us back (Hosea 3.1), to be Your beloved (Eph 5.25). And You knew what was coming.
Jesus, we want to have our lamps ready (Mat 25), awaiting with eager, expectant longing and anticipation (eros) Your victory celebration (1 Thes 4.17) and the wedding feast You are preparing for us, Your beloved bride (Rev 19.6), when the twisted values of this world become straight, and our earthly prizes become as common rock (Rev 21.21). And You knew what was coming … because You are already there, both alpha and omega, beyond time as both beginning and ending (Rev 22.13).
Jesus, You are our beloved (Song 2.16), and we long for that day!
* I am aware of the potential theological difficulties with this statement. My purpose in writing is poetic, not strictly philosophic. I affirm the unity in the Trinity. On this difficulty, consider this article (and to further qualify, I do not agree with other positions of the article's author).
No comments:
Post a Comment