Tawa Baptist

Cryptic Cross Words

Scripture: John 12:20-36

Video Link: https://youtu.be/0JlP3GcxrOo

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • The why of the cross (purpose)
  • The way of the cross (strategy)
  • Conclusion – The crisis of the cross (decision)

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

Many people these days do the daily Wordle. But I’m interested to know, does anyone here still do the crossword?  [Wait]

There are basically two types of crosswords. The regular type which uses similar words for clues and cryptic crosswords, which are a bit trickier. With cryptic crosswords each clue has two parts. One part gives a definition of the answer and the other part is an additional hint using word play.

For example, a cryptic clue might read: A holy symbol of torture (5 letters).

Any guesses as to what the word might be? [Wait]

That’s right, cross. A cross is both a holy symbol and an instrument of torture.

Last Sunday we started a new sermon series for Lent, looking at some of the events in Jesus’ last week on earth leading up to his crucifixion. Today’s reading focuses on John chapter 12, verses 20-36. In this passage Jesus talks cryptically about the meaning of the cross. From John 12, verse 20 we read…

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted upfrom the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you.  Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us.

Today’s Scripture reads like a series of cryptic crossword clues. It takes some thinking about. Here’s the big picture: Jesus is talking about the cross. He is presenting the why of the cross and the way of the cross. The why of the cross speaks to purpose and the way is about Jesus’ strategy for achieving that purpose. So why did Jesus go to the cross?

The why of the cross:

Here’s another cryptic clue for you: ‘shining a light on honour’ (7 letters). What could the word be?  [Wait] You can find the answer in verse 28, by the way. [Wait] That’s right, glorify.

To glorify something is to shine a positive light on it, to highlight that which is honourable and good. God is love and so we glorify God (we highlight His goodness) when we love others.

In the context of John 12, it is just days before Jesus will go to the cross in obedience to God the Father. Jesus is riding a wave of popularity with the people. Even some God fearing Greeks have asked to speak with him. But Jesus doesn’t really care about being popular. The cross is what’s on top for Jesus.

With this in mind, Jesus explains the why of the cross. This is the purpose in other words. Jesus gives at least three reasons why he must be crucified: To glorify God’s name. To defeat Satan and to draw all people to himself.  

In verse 28, Jesus prays: Father, glorify your name. Jesus is deeply troubled by the thought of going to the cross. If he must suffer in this way, then he wants his suffering to have meaning and purpose. He doesn’t want to suffer in vain.

God’s name is his reputation and his integrity. God’s name is love. Jesus wants his crucifixion to shine a light on God’s love. Jesus wants God to be honoured through the cross.

Jesus’ prayer for God’s name to be glorified is a model for us. One thing is certain in this life. We will suffer pain, uncertainty and loss. How should we pray when faced with suffering? Well, Jesus shows us (by his example) to be honest about how we are feeling and ask God to make our suffering serve a higher purpose. 

So we might pray something like, ‘Lord, this really hurts. I don’t like it and would rather not have to endure it. But your will be done. Redeem my suffering. Let my suffering shine a light on your love, your grace, your justice, your mercy, your goodness. Amen.’  

Interestingly, God answers Jesus’ prayer in an audible way, saying: “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”  

There are three times in the gospels when God speaks audibly. Once at Jesus’ baptism. Then again at Jesus’ transfiguration and here, for a third time, in John 12. The audible voice is for the benefit of those around Jesus.

To some people, God’s voice is like the sound of thunder. Powerful but incomprehensible. To others, God’s voice sounds like an angel. I’m not sure what an angel sounds like but one imagines something like the hallelujah chorus. Beautiful, melodic, intelligent, pregnant with meaning.

Why is it that some hear thunder when God speaks, while others hear music? We can’t be sure but perhaps it has to do with how well we are tuned in to God? It is the Spirit of Jesus who enables us to tune in and hear God.

Verse 28 is saying that God has glorified his name through Jesus’ work so far (for example, his miracles of mercy and his teaching of truth) and God will glorify his name again through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.   

So that’s the first reason why Jesus went to the cross, to glorify God’s name. The second reason is to defeat Satan.

In verse 31 Jesus says: Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

The phrase ‘prince of this world’ is a cryptic way of referring to Satan. On the face of it, Jesus’ death on the cross would appear to be a victory for the evil one, when in actual fact it is God’s way of judging the devil.

We might think of it this way: In a game of football, if a player misbehaves perhaps by becoming violent and throwing a punch, the referee gives that player a red card and sends them off the field for the rest of the game. By killing Jesus, Satan earned himself a red card and God (the referee) sent him off the field.

Of course, the spiritual battle Jesus won against evil was infinitely greater than any football match.  My illustration falls short.

Jesus’ victory over Satan naturally raises questions for us in the 21st Century. Because 2000 years after Jesus’ crucifixion it appears that Satan is still on the field, still very active in this world. In what sense then has Satan been defeated and driven out?

Well, from our very limited human perspective, we might say that Satan’s defeat at Golgotha took place in the spiritual realm. With Jesus’ death and resurrection something shifted, spiritually, so that Satan was cast out of the heavenly court. 

Satan may still be loose in the physical world, wreaking all sorts of havoc, but his time on earth is limited. Satan has lost his authority as a prince. When Jesus returns in glory he will expel Satan from the earth as well and make all things new. The new heavens and the new earth will not be tarnished by evil.

There is another, more personal, way to think about the devil’s defeat. The name Satan is a Hebrew term which literally means accuser or adversary. Satan is the one who accuses us before God. He is the one who takes us to spiritual court and makes all sorts of accusations and threats against us.

Theologians tell us that, on the cross, Jesus took our sin (our crimes against God and humanity) upon himself. So, when Jesus died, our sin died with him. This means, when Satan accuses us of wrong doing, his accusations are empty because our sin died with Jesus on the cross.

Therefore, Satan has no case. When we align ourselves with Jesus, God throws the devil’s accusations out of court and we are acquitted. 

You may (at times) still feel Satan’s accusation against you personally but, as a believer, you do not need to fear his accusation because he has no actual power to condemn you. He’s just playing mind games. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  

For those of you who struggle with the idea of a Satan, let me put it this way: On the cross Jesus overcame fear with love. He overcame condemnation with forgiveness. For those who believe, the love of God (as displayed by Jesus on the cross) has the power to conquer the fear of death and silence the voice of the accuser.  

We are talking about the why of the cross. Jesus’ purpose in going to the cross was to glorify God’s name, to defeat Satan and to draw all people to himself.

Time for another cryptic clue. ‘Make a picture come closer’ (4 letters). [Wait] You can find this word in verse 32. [Wait] That’s right, draw.

The word ‘draw’ can mean, ‘to make a picture’ but it can also mean ‘to come closer’, as in draw near.  

In verse 32, Jesus says: And I, when I am lifted upfrom the earth, will draw all people to myself.         

Crucifixion involved being lifted up on a cross for everyone to see. And so, ‘When I am lifted up’ is a cryptic way of saying, ‘when I am crucified’.

The cross of Christ serves the purpose of drawing all people to Jesus. We are not driven to Jesus by fear. We are drawn to Jesus by his passion. Passion is a word which literally means suffering. If you have ever felt the passion of love, you will understand why passion means suffering. 

The cross is a symbol of suffering. Suffering and death is the universal experience of every human being. Jesus suffered in pretty much every way. He suffered physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. He suffered insult, injury and injustice and so anyone who has ever suffered, even a little bit of what Jesus suffered, can identify with him.

Our own suffering (large and small) can be a vehicle to intimacy with Jesus. If we are misunderstood, maligned or treated unfairly. If we suffer loss or abuse, hunger or thirst, then we can draw close to Jesus in that experience, knowing we are not alone. Knowing Jesus has been there before us and shares in our pain now. 

Because suffering is universal, the cross of Christ draws all people to Jesus. Our reading today started with some Greeks coming to ask Philip if they could meet with Jesus to talk with him. They were God fearing people who were intellectually curious. They were seeking the truth.

But after that we don’t read any more about these Greek seekers. We don’t know whether they got to speak to Jesus or not. Their presence in the narrative is a bit cryptic. What we do know is that Jesus took their enquiry as a sign that his hour had come.

Leon Morris explains: The fact that the Greeks had reached a point of wanting to meet Jesus showed that the time had come for him to die for the world. Jesus no longer belongs (exclusively) to Judaism, which in any case has (largely) rejected him. Jesus belongs to the whole world. [1]

The Greeks, in John 12, represent the wider world who seek a Saviour. Whether Jesus spoke with the Greeks or not, he certainly died for them.

The way of the cross:

Okay, so we’ve considered the why of the cross. Now let’s consider the way of the cross.  In talking about the way of the cross, we mean the strategy Jesus used for achieving God’s purpose. 

Jesus’ way is somewhat of a paradox. The way to life is found through death. The way to glory is found through suffering. And the way to honour is found through service. These are not three separate things. They are three ways of saying the same thing.

Jesus illustrates his strategy, in verse 24, using a parable from nature. Just as a single seed must be planted in the earth and die in order to become a plant and grow many more seeds, so too Jesus must die and be buried in order to be raised and bring eternal life to many. In short, Jesus’ sacrificial death multiplies life.

Jesus’ illustration of the seed is not difficult to understand. But what does it mean for us, his followers? How do we apply Jesus’ words about hating your life in this world? Does this mean we must go around miserable and grumpy all the time?

Well, no. There is much that is beautiful in this world. Much to be celebrated and enjoyed. Simple things like watching a sunset or the companionship of an old friend or the smell of freshly baked bread or reading a good book. It is necessary and healthy for us to take time out to enjoy these simple pleasures.

When Jesus speaks about hating your life in this world, he is using an ancient Jewish idiom that is mostly lost in translation for us.  The ‘world’ in the gospel of John often refers to this current age, this epoch in history, which is finite and coming to an end.  

Jesus’ point is not to become too attached to the things of this world because they are passing away. Your house, your car, your career, your bank balance, your special skills and talents, your reputation; these are all temporary things. They do not travel with you, to the next world, when you die.

What really matters, is faith expressing itself in love. The love you give in this world is banked for you in the next, in eternity. More than just being banked, the love you give is multiplied like a seed. It is transformed beyond all imagining.

‘Hating your life’ does not mean harming yourself or treating yourself harshly. You are highly valued by God and you need to care for the body and soul God has given you. Jesus goes on to explain, in verse 26, that hating your life in this world equates to serving and following him. As Paul says in Romans 12, we are to be living sacrifices.

Serving Jesus will look different for each of us. For some it means giving your time and skills to help in the church. For others it might mean raising your family to know and love Jesus. And still for others, serving Jesus might mean practising his values, living out his way, in the workplace.

Conclusion – the crisis of the cross:

One more cryptic crossword clue: ‘A decision made under pressure’ (6 letters). What’s the word? [Wait] It starts with a ‘C’ and ends with an ‘S’. [Wait]

That’s right, Crisis.

The word crisis literally means to decide. The crisis point is the moment of decision. But in everyday usage a crisis is a time of intense distress or pressure. The cross of Christ creates a crisis. The cross of Christ demands a decision.   

When Jesus spelled out to people his strategy, the way of the cross, the crowds had difficulty accepting it. They could not imagine a crucified Messiah. They thought their Saviour King would remain forever and so they questioned Jesus.

They were half right. Yes, Jesus the Messiah does remain forever but not without being crucified first. After Jesus died, God raised him to eternal life. Unfortunately, the crowds were not able to put that together.

Jesus has already answered their question and doesn’t waste his breath repeating himself. Instead he says: “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you…”    

In the gospel of John, Jesus is the light of the world. Light, therefore, is Jesus’ cryptic way of referring to himself. Jesus is basically saying, believe in me while you still can because if you don’t believe in me now, the window of opportunity for faith will close and you will lose yourself in the dark.   

To walk in the dark and not know where you are going in life is to not know what your future is. To not know you have a good future is to be hopeless, it is to be in despair. Jesus doesn’t want despair for us.   

The cross of Christ creates a crisis. The cross of Christ demands a decision. Have you accepted the light of the world? Have you put your trust in Jesus?

May the Spirit of God turn the light on in our minds that we would believe and see and walk in the way of Jesus. Amen.  

Questions for discussion or reflection:

What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?

  • What does it mean to glorify someone or something? How do we glorify God?
  • Can you think of a time in your own life when God used your suffering to serve a higher purpose? What happened?
  • Discuss / reflect on the various ways Jesus defeated Satan on the cross. How loud is the voice of accusation in your head? What triggers that voice? What defence might you employ against the voice of accusation?
  • Think about your own experience of suffering. Does this connect with Jesus’ suffering in some small way? Take a few moments to draw close to Jesus in the intimacy of your shared experience. Know that you are not alone. Know that Jesus walks with you, sharing in your pain.
  • What did Jesus mean by ‘hating your life in this world’? How do you serve Jesus in this life?
  • What simple pleasures can you enjoy this week to nourish your soul and invigorate your service to Jesus?   

[1] Leon Morris, NICNT on John, page 524.

Tawa Baptist

The Cross

Good Friday Reflection: Four dimensions of the cross

Video Link: https://youtu.be/XnyM2pIaKUw

Good morning everyone.

John 19:28-37

A reading from the gospel of John chapter 19, for Good Friday. This is John’s account of the death of Jesus. From verse 28 we read…  

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.  31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.

32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us.

Four dimensions of the cross:

The cross of Christ has many dimensions. Today we briefly touch on just four of those dimensions: Relational, Psychological, Global and Physical.

First and foremost, the cross of Christ is relational. Jesus came to restore our relationship with God and our relationships with each other. Through faith in Jesus our sins are forgiven. In fact, our sins were nailed to the cross with Jesus.

And so, when we face the cross we face our mistakes; those things we might prefer to ignore or forget. We also face the hurts we have received.

Jesus taught us to pray: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. What things do we need to ask God’s forgiveness for? And, who needs your forgiveness? We need God’s grace to forgive others.

Another aspect of Jesus’ suffering is the psychological dimension. Jesus was forced to wear a crown of thorns. This crown of thorns was a cruel joke of the soldiers, a parody of Jesus’ claim to be a King.

The physical anguish of the thorns digging into his scalp points to the psychological anguish Jesus suffered. Jesus was betrayed by one of his closest friends. He was deserted by his disciples, separated, mocked, alienated and alone in a crowd. Most people did not see him for who he really was.

The prophet Isaiah foretold how the Messiah would be a man of sorrows, acquainted with the bitterest grief.

Many people these days live with psychological trauma. Many people struggle with the yawning chasm of loneliness. Many are exhausted by anxiety and the toll of emotional pain and grief. Perhaps you can identify with Jesus in this way.

The Spirit of Jesus intercedes for us with groans and sighs too deep for words.

The cross of Jesus has a global dimension as well. You see, Jesus was innocent. The accusations against him were false. Jesus did not deserve to die. Through the cross, Jesus stands in solidarity with all those who suffer injustice, wherever they are in the world.

There are many in this world who suffer injustice. The people of Ukraine are hanging on the cross of war, through no fault of their own. Millions of people hang on a cross of slavery and unfair trade. Millions more find themselves on the cross of abuse or poverty, not by their own choice but by the callousness and greed of others. 

Isaiah said of the Christ: A bent reed he will not break and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out till he leads justice to victory. The justice Jesus will bring to the earth is global, reaching every corner of the earth. And it is a justice that restores.

The fourth aspect of the cross, we are thinking of today, is the physical dimension. Jesus suffered in his body. He was beaten, scourged and crucified. He was thirsty too, after having lost so much blood. The physical pain Jesus endured is unimaginable.

We are coming through a global pandemic. But even without the pandemic, many in our world suffer sickness in other forms and are feeling the pain of hunger and thirst in their bodies.

The prophet Isaiah said of the Messiah: by his stripes we are healed. The healing in view here is both physical and spiritual. Jesus’ suffering is the source of our ultimate healing and wholeness.

Our environment is suffering too. Deforestation, global warming, extreme weather events, dirty water, plastic in our oceans and our food chain. The whole planet is physically sick. Jesus came to make all things new. ‘All things’ includes the whole of creation, not just human beings.

The cross of Christ has relational, psychological, global and physical implications for all people everywhere.

I invite you to take some time now to pray into these four areas.

Examples of things you could include, in your prayer, in relation to each of the four dimensions of the cross…

Relational: What things do you need to ask God’s forgiveness for? Who do you need to forgive or make peace with? Pray for God’s grace to forgive.

Psychological: Pray for someone you know whose mental health is suffering. Pray for people who are lonely. Pray for those who are suffering the grief of losing a loved one. Pray for those who are overly anxious or afraid.

Global: Pray for those who are suffering some form of injustice. E.g. Unfair trade / modern day slaves, the poor, survivors of abuse, refugees displaced by war or famine, the people of Ukraine, etc.  

Physical: Pray for the healing of our bodies and our environment. Pray for someone you know personally who is unwell. Pray for an end to the Covid pandemic.

Tawa Baptist

In Christ Alone

Scriptures: Ephesians 2:20, John 1:11, Romans 5:18-19, 2nd Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 20:28, Romans 8:38-39, 1st Corinthians 15:20-22.

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Security
  • Atonement
  • Hope
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

What is your favourite comfort food? Is it chocolate? Is it a bag of chips? Is it freshly baked bread? Is it KFC or fish n’ chips? Or maybe you like a good old fashioned roast with lots of crispy potatoes and lashings of gravy.

Comfort food is food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being. We tend to eat comfort food when we are sad or anxious. It usually has a high sugar or fat content and is often associated with some kind of warm memory from our childhood, like when your grandad made pikelets or your mum made apple pie.

Today we continue our ‘Anthems’ series. In this series we are looking at the lyrics of one hymn or Christian worship song each week to see how that song informs our thinking about God and how it connects with Scripture and the heritage of our faith.

The song we are looking at this morning is called In Christ Alone. This modern day hymn has proved very popular in churches around the western world. In many ways it is comfort food for the Christian soul.

In Christ Alone was released in 2002. The music was composed by Keith Getty and the lyrics were written by Stuart Townend. Keith Getty was born in Ireland in 1974 and Stuart Townend was born in England in 1963. Stuart also wrote How deep the Father’s love.

In Christ Alone is lyrically rich, touching on many ideas from Scripture.

This morning I would like to explore three of the key themes I see in the song. Namely: security, atonement and hope. First let us consider the theme of security.      

Security:

A few weeks ago, when it became apparent that the world was about to go into lockdown, we saw some panic buying at supermarkets. Some people felt anxious that grocery supplies would run out and started stock piling food.

Flour was one of the first things to disappear, which makes sense because flour is versatile. It can be used in the making of so many comfort foods. But other supplies have also been in high demand – things like sugar, coffee, pasta, lollies, bread, Nuromol, soap and, for some reason, deodorant. Now, I can understand why most of these things would fly off the shelves in difficult times. Having plenty of coffee and sugar and bread gives people a sense of security. But I can’t understand why people felt they needed to stock pile deodorant. We are meant to be practising physical distancing so one would think there was little need to smell nice. Robyn will be the first to tell you, I haven’t really bothered much with deodorant since we’ve been in lockdown. (I’m pretty sure you can’t smell me over the internet.)      

Seriously though, the events of the past few weeks have tested our sense of security and some have been more sorely tested than others. Sadly, people have lost work and income. Fortunately, our government has provided some financial assistance to cushion the blow and many banks and landlords have extended grace to those worst affected.

These physical and financial comforts are helpful for maintaining a sense of security and well-being but, at the same time, the human soul also needs to feel secure at a deeper level – in our spirit.    

In Christ Alone is filled with words of comfort that remind us of the security we have in Christ. Verse 1 reads…

Christ is my light, my strength, my song. This cornerstone, this solid ground.

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace. When fears are stilled, when strivings cease. My Comforter, my All in All. Here in the love of Christ I stand.

Jesus is the light of the world. If you are in the dark and feeling afraid then turning the lights on makes you feel safe – it gives you a sense of security.

Likewise, Christ is our cornerstone, our solid ground – he is a firm and secure foundation on which to build the house of our life. This reminds us of Jesus’ parable of the two builders – one who built his house on the rock and the other who built his house on sand. When the storm hit, the house built on sand fell but the house built on rock stood. To build our life on the rock is obey the teaching of Jesus. There is security in the wisdom of Jesus. We can trust his word.

Jesus is referred to as a cornerstone in a number of places in the Bible, like in Ephesians 2:20 for example where Paul writes…

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

The security that is in view here is that of belonging to the household of God. The title of the song In Christ Alone might give some the impression of being alone in their faith in Christ. But this is not what is meant. Actually we are in Christ together. Even if you are alone in your bubble at this time you are not alone in Christ. You are part of the household of God.     

I’m conscious that a number of people in our congregation and community have immigrated to NZ recently. I’m told that residency applications (even before the Corona virus hit) are a slow process. And that can create a feeling of discomfort and unease. Without residency there’s a whole lot of things you can’t do, like buying a house and putting down roots. This challenges one’s sense of security. Jesus offers himself as a cornerstone for anyone who will believe in him. In and through Christ we have residency in the kingdom of God.

Verse 1 of the song also describes Jesus as my comforter. Jesus is the ultimate comfort food – he is the bread of life. Jesus is the flour which never runs out.

The last line of verse 1 of the song reads, Here in the love of Christ I stand. God is love and, as the apostle John reminds us, perfect love drives out all fear. God’s love is a reliable source of security.

Atonement:

The second major theme we find In Christ Alone is that of atonement.

Atonement is a word which has a very long and complicated history. It is a technical word used by theological experts to describe what Jesus achieved on the cross. Perhaps the simplest way to understand it is at-one-ment. To atone is to be ‘at one’, whole, reconciled.

During this past week there was a news article on TV about bowling greens. Green keepers were asking for a special dispensation from the government to be able to continue looking after the country’s lawn bowling greens. They were saying that safely maintaining what is already there will be cheaper in the long run than letting things get out of control and having to put it right later on.

Many bowling greens in NZ are sown in a species of grass called Cotula (Leptinella dioca). Cotula is a small native herb that spreads out as it grows, forming a very compact mat. You wouldn’t sow a bowling green in Cocksfoot or Buttercup because those kinds of grasses (which you often see on the side of the road) grow up tall, rather than out flat. 

For the bowling green to be an even playing field the lawn needs to be one type of grass. If part of the green is sown in Cotula with patches of Cocksfoot and Buttercup interspersed, then that’s no good. The bowls won’t roll evenly. A well-kept bowling green is one type of grass. In a sense the job of a green keeper is to achieve atonement (or ‘at-one-ment’) of their bowling green.

If we were to think of our relationship with God as a bowling green and ourselves as green keepers, then the truth is, we haven’t looked after the green. We have allowed patches of pride, selfishness and fear to grow. Consequently, the green (of our relationship with God) isn’t right. It doesn’t run true and we can’t fix it ourselves.

On the cross Jesus was making our relationship with God one again – he was removing our sin and making the divine / human relationship whole, making it right, so that things run true.  

Now, if you don’t understand my illustration, then don’t worry. Just think of atonement as reconciliation.  Verse 2 of the song brings to mind Jesus’ work of atonement – making us one with God.      

In Christ alone, who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless babe

In John 1 we read how Jesus (the Word of God) became flesh. To take on flesh is a poetic way of saying ‘God became human’. We call this the ‘incarnation’. Christian doctrine says that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine at the same time.

The next line of verse 2 of the song reads…
This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save
Jesus is God’s gift of love to the world. As John 3:16 says…

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.

Sadly, as John’s gospel tells us, Jesus came to his own but his own received him not. (John 1:11). Jesus was scorned (rejected) by those he came to save.

The Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, could see that Jesus was innocent and tried to save him but the crowd called for Jesus to be crucified.

So far so good, until we get to the next line in verse 2…    

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid. Here in the death of Christ I live.


Hmmm. Most people probably read these lines without giving the words a second thought. But one phrase there has proved quite controversial.

No one disagrees with the fact that Jesus took our sin upon himself and died on the cross. That is generally accepted by Christian believers. The difficulty is with the line; the wrath of God was satisfied.  

The Presbyterian church hymnal committee, in the United States, asked the authors of the song if they could change the words from ‘the wrath of God was satisfied’ to ‘the love of God was magnified’.

Townend and Getty politely said ‘no’.

The Presbyterians respected the author’s wishes but, on the basis of that one phrase, did not include In Christ Alone in their hymn book, even though they agreed with everything else in the song.

So what’s the problem? Well, before I answer that, it is important to acknowledge that the authors of the song are sincere Christians who I believe genuinely want to honour God and build up the body of Christ. It is not my intention to put them down. It is my intention to help us understand the songs we sing in the best possible light. 

The problem is, that line (about the wrath of God being satisfied) makes God look bad. It gives some people the impression of an angry God who must be appeased – sort of like a pagan god. Now I don’t think the authors intended that meaning. After all, the line actually reads …as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied, which suggests timing rather than causation and so allows for some flexibility of interpretation.

Nevertheless, the ambiguity is not ideal. Not only does this line create a problem with people’s perception of God, it also raises a difficulty in logic. It doesn’t make sense to think that the wrath of God was satisfied by the death of Jesus. Jesus was an innocent man. If God is filled with wrath at sin and injustice, then the death of an innocent man is not going to satisfy God’s wrath – it’s only going to add to it.    

So, if we are going to sing this song, what is the best way to understand that infamous line?

Michael Green describes God’s wrath as ‘his settled opposition to all that is evil.’ God’s wrath is different from human anger. God is just and merciful. He doesn’t fly off the handle in a rage and take out his anger on people who don’t deserve it. By the same token his character will not allow him to tolerate evil.

If we agree with Michael Green, that God’s wrath is ‘his settled opposition to all that is evil’, then the thing that satisfies God’s wrath (the thing that turns God’s wrath away) is the end of evil and the beginning of faithful obedience to Him. As we sing in another hymn, ‘Trust and obey for there is no other way.’

Therefore, it would be more accurate to say that it’s not Jesus’ death that satisfies God’s wrath but rather Jesus’ obedience of faith in going to the cross as God asked. Jesus, who is fully human, obeys God on behalf of humanity and in doing so atones for us – he reconciles us to God.

As we read in Romans 5:18-19, 18 So then, as the one sin condemned all people, in the same way the one righteous act sets all people free and gives them life. 19 And just as all people were made sinners as the result of the disobedience of one man [Adam], in the same way they will all be put right with God as the result of the obedience of the one man [Jesus].

That phrase ‘the wrath of God was satisfied’ needs to be read in context with the very next line of the song which says, ‘For every sin on Him was laid’.  

This reminds me of what the apostle Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 5:21,

We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him [Jesus] who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

What Paul is saying here, is that our sin was nailed to the cross with Jesus. Therefore, from God’s point view, our sin died on the cross with Jesus.

Once again, it’s not the death of Jesus that satisfies God’s wrath. More precisely, it is the death of sin which satisfies God’s wrath. Sadly, we can’t have one without the other. For sin to die, Jesus also had to die. 

Verse 4 of the song picks up another angle on atonement where it says…

For I am His and He is mine bought with the precious blood of Christ.

This is probably a reference to the way Jesus understood his crucifixion.

In Matthew 20:28 Jesus said of himself, for the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.

To ransom something is to pay a price to redeem it or secure its freedom. Jesus’ blood ransoms us – it buys us back, setting us free from the bondage of sin.

As with any metaphor we need to be careful not to make it walk on all fours. That is, we shouldn’t over interpret it by imagining that Satan demanded and received a payment from God in Christ’s blood. [1]  That gives the devil too much credit. Satan is not able to leverage God like that.

There are two main ideas to take away from the ransom analogy:

Firstly, that Jesus’ sacrifice was costly, it was paid in his life blood. So we shouldn’t take it for granted.

And secondly, we now belong to Christ. In other words, we are now at-one with Christ and with God.

Now, if you’re still listening, well done. You may be thinking, ‘Wow. This atonement stuff is really complicated and hard to understand, especially for a Sunday morning.’ I make no apology for that. It doesn’t hurt us to think deeply about our faith from time to time. One of the advantages of an on-line service is that you can go back and listen to the message again or read the sermon notes until the complicated stuff makes sense.    

By the same token, don’t stress about it if you can’t get your head around the atonement. Our salvation does not depend on understanding how the cross of Christ works. Our salvation depends on faith in Jesus.

When I get in my car to drive somewhere I don’t have to understand how the engine works in order to get from A to B – I just have to turn the engine on and drive.

Likewise, if I go to the doctor with an infection, I don’t need to understand how the medicine works for it to make me better – I just need to take it.

We don’t have to understand how Jesus saves us – we just have to believe that he does. Like I said in my Good Friday reflection: “We cannot understand the full meaning of the cross of Christ. We can only stand in silence before it, acknowledge its wonder, and submit to its power.”  [2]

Okay, so far we’ve considered two themes of the song: security and atonement. A third theme we notice is hope.    

Hope:

Often with Christian hymns the subject of hope is raised in the last verse, at the end of the song. ‘In Christ Alone’ sounds a note of hope in the very first line, where it says, In Christ alone my hope is found.

Hope is a word that is closely related to faith. Hope is believing we have a good future. Hope says, we will get through this. The best is yet to come. Worry and believing the worst about the future is the opposite of hope. The ‘panic buying’ we saw in supermarkets recently was a sign that some people were not hopeful. On the other hand, the way most New Zealanders have supported the lockdown and stayed in their bubbles indicates many people do have hope – we do believe we can eliminate the spread of this virus. If we didn’t have hope, we wouldn’t bother staying home.   

Hope is like a kite. It rises against the wind. When things are going well we don’t tend to think about the future all that much. There’s no need to. We are happy enough in the present. But when things are difficult, when we face some sort of opposition, we look to better days ahead and hope rises. The word we use to describe the positive energy of hope is joy. Joy lifts us when we are going through difficulty.    

I don’t know about you but one of the things I’ve noticed this year is an unprecedented use of the word unprecedented.

Unprecedented means ‘never done or known before’. Therefore, by its very definition, unprecedented is not a word we should use very often.

One thing that is truly unprecedented in human history is the resurrection of Christ. While it is true that Jesus raised at least three people from the dead during his earthly ministry, those miracles were different from the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection. Lazarus and the two kids who Jesus raised from the dead would have eventually died again but Jesus was raised to eternal life. He received a new body, one not subject to sickness or death.           

The third and fourth verses of In Christ Alone celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and the certain hope this creates for us. Verse 3 starts with the words…

There in the ground His body lay, light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again.

All four gospels testify to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus’ resurrection is proof that Jesus was who he said he was – the Son of God.

Jesus’ resurrection shows us the justice of God – it was God’s way of vindicating Jesus. By raising Jesus from the dead God was saying Jesus was innocent and did not deserve to die.

Jesus’ resurrection also shows us that Jesus is Lord over life and death – he has victory over sin and the grave. The song picks up this theme of Jesus’ supremacy in various lines. For example, in verse 3 where we sing…   

And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.

In the context of the song, Sins’ curse most likely refers to guilt and death, which are mentioned in the opening line of verse 4.

Our sin was nailed to the cross with Jesus so sin has been crucified. Sin no longer has power over us and this gives us hope. It assures us we have a good future to look forward to.   

Verse 4 of the song continues the theme of Christ’s supremacy where it says…

From life’s first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand.
This reminds me of Romans 8:38-39 where Paul writes,

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Because Jesus is Lord of all, because He reigns supreme we have hope and security, both in this life and the next. 

But wait, there’s more. Jesus’ resurrection provides Christian believers with evidence that God will raise us to eternal life one day too. In 1st Corinthians 15:20-22 Paul writes about the certain hope of resurrection…

20 But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised. 21 For just as death came by means of a man, in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man. 22 For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ.

Christ’s resurrection has real implications for those who place their trust in him. Christ’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection to eternal life. This is not an unlikely hope (like winning lotto). This is a certain hope and a real comfort when a believer dies.

Conclusion:

The song finishes with the line, Till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

This reminds us that Jesus will return in glory one day. Therefore, we need to be ready. No one knows the day or hour.  

It also reminds us that we don’t stand in our own strength. We stand in the power of Christ’s Spirit. This means we are not alone and it doesn’t all depend on us.  

Jesus is our all in all. He gives us security. He reconciles us to God. And, through Christ, we have the hope of a good future.

Intercessory Prayer

Let us pray.

Generous God, we pray for those who are struggling financially during this time of lockdown. Help people in need who are applying for government assistance. Open doors to release your providence where it is needed.

Father God, may you help those who are managing the pressures that come with working from home and caring for children. Give them the grace of patience and good humour. Make our marriages and families stronger through this experience we pray.

Gracious God, may you help those who are feeling insecure or anxious at this time. Calm all ungodly fears and bring stillness to every racing mind. May your peace be our security.

Loving God, we pray for those who are working in essential services. Protect them from all harm and encourage them in the vital work they do.

Suffering God, may you help those (in NZ and overseas) who have lost loved ones and are unable to gather for a funeral. Comfort them by your Holy Spirit and bring to their minds happy memories. The love we give is never lost. 

Faithful God, may you help those who are seeking residency in NZ, wanting to make this country their home. Give them your reassurance and provide them with a turangawaewae (a place to stand), a cornerstone.

Compassionate God, may you help those who are feeling disconnected or lonely. Make the at-one-ment of Christ real for them. Help them to draw near to Jesus and feel the warmth of God’s people. Help us all as we tend the bowling greens of our relationships.    

Living God, may you help those whose hope is waning. Cause them to rise against the wind and soar on wings like eagles. Keep the truth and wonder of Jesus’ resurrection present in our minds we ask.     

Immanuel, may you help those who are trying to care for parents and family members from a distance. Watch over our loved ones for good. May we all remember that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Wise and merciful God, we pray these things in submission to your perfect and pleasing will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In Christ Alone is comfort food for the Christian soul. Not junk food, but real hearty nourishment. Let’s nourish our souls as we sing, In Christ Alone…

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Questions for discussion or reflection

Listen to the song ‘In Christ Alone’.  What are you in touch with as you listen to this song? (What connections, memories or feelings does the song evoke for you?) 

What is your favourite comfort food? Is there a special memory attached to this comfort food?  In what sense are certain worship songs like spiritual comfort food?

Discuss / reflect on some of the images of security in the song. E.g. light, cornerstone, firm foundation, comforter and love. How do these connect with Scripture? Which image of security resonates best with you?  Why is that do you think? 

What does atonement mean?

What problems can you see with the line, ‘Til on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied? What is God’s wrath? How does Jesus turn God’s wrath away? (Think obedience, not punishment.)

What is hope? How is hope related to faith and joy?

Why is the resurrection of Jesus so important to Christian faith? What are the implications of Jesus’ resurrection for you personally?  

Outtakes

The cornerstone metaphor is also used of Christ in 1 Peter 2:6 where the apostle writes: 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual houseto be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

In the verses above, from 1 Corinthians 15, we see our three themes of security, atonement and hope drawn together.

Union with Christ speaks of the result of atonement – Jesus makes us one with himself and with God.

Likewise, Christ’s resurrection speaks of hope in that it guarantees our resurrection to eternal life.

And, when we put Christ’s work of atonement and the hope of resurrection together, we have security in Christ.

[1] Refer to the Ransom article in the ‘Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, page 695

[2] Stanley Grenz, ‘Theology for the Community of God’, page 340

Tawa Baptist

When I survey the wondrous cross

Scriptures: Galatians 6:14, 1st Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 22:37

Good Friday Reflection:

Good morning everyone.

For many years the BBC Good Friday radio broadcast has started with the hymn, When I survey the wondrous cross. ­The words for When I survey were written by Isaac Watts in 1707 in preparation for a communion service. Isaac Watts was about 33 years old at the time. The hymn was originally named “Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ,” but apparently that didn’t catch on and these days we simply call it by the opening line When I survey.  

Isaac Watts was the son of a deacon in the Independent Church. As an 18 year old Watts was critical of the hymns they sang in church in the 17th Century, so his father said to him, “Make some yourself then.”

And that’s exactly what Isaac Watts did. He started writing his own hymns. Over his lifetime he penned the lyrics for about 750 songs, including Joy to world, which we sing at Christmas time.

Many consider ‘When I Survey the Wondrous Cross’ to be one of the greatest hymns ever composed. Certainly it was ground breaking in its day. When I survey is unlike the other hymns, of that time, in that it reflects a personal spiritual experience. It describes the affect the cross of Christ can have on the human soul.

The sentiment of the opening line (and indeed the whole song) is that “We cannot understand the full meaning of the cross of Christ. We can only stand in silence before it, acknowledge its wonder, and submit to its power.”  [1]

At that stage in church history many people had been focused on getting their doctrines right. While good doctrine is helpful for guiding our thinking about God, Watts could see that doctrine by itself wasn’t enough. Faith in God isn’t just a set of philosophical principles or ideas to be examined under the microscope of our mind. We don’t define God. God defines us.

On some level Isaac Watts knew that God is relational and people need to have a personal encounter with Jesus. We need the love of God to touch us on the inside. Songs like When I survey were controversial in Watts’ day, perhaps because they were considered too subjective or too emotional. And yet, for over 300 years,the song When I survey the wondrous cross has opened people’s hearts to the wonder of God’s love and given us a way to express our deep personal gratitude to Jesus.

The second line of the song refers to the ‘Prince of Glory’. This is a title for Jesus. Prince of Glory (with a capital G) means Prince of heaven.

‘Prince of Glory’ also indicates that all glory and honour are due to Jesus.   

In the last line of the first verse of the song Watts talks about pouring contempt on all my pride. Contempt is the feeling that something is worthless. And pride, in the context of this song, is a feeling of self-satisfaction. Pride says, ‘I don’t need God. I can do this on my own.’ Therefore, ‘to pour contempt on our pride’ is to consider our own achievements as worthless and to rely, not on ourselves but rather, on what Christ has achieved through the cross. 

C.S. Lewis had some things to say about pride. He said, for example,

…pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense. [2]

A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you. [3]

…it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.

In verse 2 of the hymn we speak directly to God saying, ‘Forbid it Lord that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my Lord’. This is a paraphrase of Paul’s words in Galatians 6:14, where the apostle writes,

‘May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.’  

The world, in this verse from Galatians, refers to everything that is against God. The world then is not so much a geographical place. The world, in this context, refers to an ‘anti-God state of mind’. Paul is saying the cross of Christ has (for him at least) killed his pride. In other words, Paul’s anti-God state of mind has been crucified. He no longer thinks of himself as not needing God. He now thinks and acts with reference to what God wants.

Taking his cue from Paul, Isaac Watts (like C.S. Lewis) had the insight to see that the cross cuts to the core of the matter – human pride. When we face the cross of Jesus squarely and honestly it humbles us.  

To put it another way; if we think of our pride as a house of cards (something we have spent a lot of time carefully constructing, but which isn’t very stable or resilient), then Christ’s sacrifice on the cross flattens our house of cards. 

The second part of verse 2 of the song continues the theme of ruthlessly crucifying our pride: All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood. This line reminds me of what Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 1:18-31. Let me read you read some of the verses from this passage of Scripture…

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

… 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ [is] the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong…

31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”   

May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us.

What the world values and holds in high esteem: things like youth, beauty, wealth, skill, success, popularity, performance, winning and so on, these are of little eternal consequence. What really matters in the end is faith expressing itself in love [4], as demonstrated by Christ’s obedience to God in going to the cross.

You know, as we grow older and more self-aware, we come to understand the paradox that our strengths contain the very seeds of our weaknesses.

What are the vain things that charm you the most?

If verses 1 & 2 of the song seek to crucify pride, then verse 3 of the hymn shows us what we see when we survey the wondrous cross … 

See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet? Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

This verse sets our minds on Jesus, bleeding out on a cross; a crown of thorns on his head, nails through his hands and feet. Sorrow mixed with love speaks of self-giving love. It also suggests not just the physical pain Jesus endured but also the mental anguish and grief Jesus suffered over his separation from God.

The final verse of the song indicates what our response should be…

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.

This verse speaks of the fact that Jesus was the only one worthy to make the sacrifice to atone for our sin. Nothing else in all creation could have sufficed. When we understand that God did not hold back even his own Son for us, our conscience requires us to not hold anything back from God.

We know from the Law of Moses and from Jesus’ teaching that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind. Jesus shows us, by his example, what that means and through the cross he provides the motivation to love God.

Now it needs to be acknowledged that we are all on a journey with this. While the final verse of the song holds up an ideal response, we don’t always manage to love God with our all. Wherever you are at on the journey I encourage you to not give up. Keep walking with Jesus. God is gracious and he understands our intentions are often bigger than our capacity to deliver (like a child at a smorgasbord whose eyes are bigger than his belly).

Peter was adamant that he would never abandon Jesus and yet, within a few hours, his enthusiasm was drained and he denied Jesus three times to save his own neck. Like Peter, we have all fallen short of our own best intentions. The good news is that Jesus did not condemn Peter. Jesus restored Peter and Jesus wants to restore us too.

When we survey the cross we face mystery. We cannot understand the full meaning of the cross of Christ. We can only stand in silence before it, acknowledge its wonder, and submit to its power.”  [5]

Let’s do that now as we sing in our bubbles, When I survey the wondrous cross…         

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my All.

[1] Stanley Grenz, ‘Theology for the Community of God’, page 340

[2] C. S. Lewis (2003). “A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis”, p.115

[3] C. S. Lewis (2003). “A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis”, p.114

[4] Galatians 5:6b

[5] Stanley Grenz, ‘Theology for the Community of God’, page 340