As per last week, you know that Pastor Josh over at The Common Place has asked me to write a poem in the weeks leading up to Advent. In a stunning revelation, he chose to read John 1:1-14, verses that don't overtly include the Christ Child.
In keeping accord with the theme of introducing scripture to Christmas carols, Josh chose "What Child is This" and focused on verse two. Personally, I think he just wanted to use the pulpit to get away with using the word "ass."
Why lies he in such mean estate
- Where ox and ass are feeding?
- Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
- The silent Word is pleading.
- Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
- The Cross be borne for me, for you;
- Hail, hail the Word Made Flesh,
- The babe, the son of Mary!
In a stunning revelation, Pastor Josh chose to read John 1:1-14, verses that don't overtly include the Christ Child. Instead of taking us back to the beginning where Christ was born (in the flesh,) John zips us way back to the beginning of everything to where the Trinity was just hanging out and God said: "Let there be light." God has a message that he wants to communicate with us, and Jesus is how He wants to get that message across.
Christ wasn't accepted in his time because he taught something different than what the people wanted. They wanted a king to avenge them by force. It wasn't what Jesus came to do. What is the voice of God telling you now? What has He got to say to you in this moment?
Amid all the hustle and bustle of this holiday season, stop and listen a moment for that still, small voice.
LISTEN HERE!
Here's my poem:
What child is this?
Born
to be the bearer
of our bad news
the burden of the cross
that he carries
the weight
of the whole world
in his hands
pierced by the nails
the physical embodiment
of our sin
my name
your name
your name
his
striking
with the hammer of our conviction.
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