Archives for March 2012

I ran across this yesterday in some old files. This is a “hymn” I wrote as an assignment for a class in seminary.

He was,
                  before the world or time began,
            enjoying perfect relationship with the Father and the Spirit 
                  distinct in person,
                  same in being
                  without even a hint of discord
            When the Father spoke light, earth, sea, air, material into being,
                  The Son was that word
                        creating, creating, creating
                        the creative power of God
                        one with God
            All that was made
                                          was made by Him,
                                          through Him
                                          For Him.

            The angels of God enjoy an exalted state
                  But the Son of God has received the Father’s name.
                        To which none can compare
                              And He receives the worship of the angels.
                  At the sound of His name
                        Some have reviled Him
                        Some have adored Him
                        But all will one day confess His limitless Lordship.


He, born of flesh, became a man
                  and knew the fullness of that state.
            There was not a facet of humanity
                  with which he was not thoroughly acquainted

                        His heart beat,
                              blood flowed,
                              feet hurt,
                              hands worked,
                        He grew weary
                              frustrated
                              angry
                              sad
                        He was loved
                              rejected
                              cared for
                              abandoned
                        He faced the worst temptation, appealing to his nature, and rights

            But he knew no sin. Not once. Not even once.


Being human and without sin,
                        He assumed the office of High priest,
                  Unlike his priestly “forebears,”
                        He needs not atone for His own sins.
            Moses acted in a priestly office
                  But this he did as a type of the coming High Priest.
                  As great was the glory of Moses,
                        it was only a shadow
                                          an imitation
                  For Moses was the house,
                        And the Builder of the House receives the glory.


He was not of the tribe of Levi,
             but of the tribe of Judah
       He was not a son of Aaron,
             but was a son of David.

            But this did not disqualify Him from His priestly role,
                  for His precedent was established in that of Melchizedek
                        who was without Father
                                                           Mother
                                                                    Genealogy
                                                           Beginning
                                                   End
                  But Father Abraham recognized the priest of God
                        and offered to him his tithes.
            In this Order, our great High Priest is ordained
                  and because He does not die,
                        He is a priest forever.


For a sacrifice, our Great High Priest offered
                  the lamb
                        which takes away the sins of the world
                        namely, Himself.
            For the system with which our sins were atoned was inadequate.
                  the priests were themselves sinful and mortal
                  the sacrifices were themselves types and shadows

            But our Great High Priest became that which the whole system represented
                  a pure, spotless Lamb,
                  without blemish
                  a perfect representative of both humanity and divinity


This priest offered himself
                  the lamb
                        which takes away the sins of the world
            and His blood spoke a better word than the blood of Abel.
                  His are better promises
                            a better hope
                            a better country
                            a better life
                            a better possession

            His sacrifice finished, completed, fulfilled the Law
                  the old covenant
            And He inaugurated a better covenant
                  of which He is the Mediator

            His blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel
                  The blood of Able cries “Vengeance!”
                         but
                  The blood of Christ cries “Mercy!”


He does not leave His people to find their way,
                         but is their Shepherd
                         and His sheep know His voice

            He can not lose even one of His own
                         and will cross land and sea
                                     move heaven and earth
                                              to bring His lost back into His fold

            He gently leads His sheep across mountain and through valley
                            provides food and drink
                            gives them rest

            He asks much,
                            but all that He asks he provides

            He founds and perfects their faith
                            They keep their eyes on Him


He leads them Home.

©2012 JDGoodwyne