Monday, November 5, 2007

Beauty and Mystery

Last Sunday our pastor taught on the following scripture:

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
-Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)

It always amazes me when I think of the depth of love Jesus expressed in humbling Himself and serving that way! Charles Wesley wrote the following verses about this soon after he became a Christian. I often sing this to God in my private times of worship. It so movingly expresses the beauty and and mystery of what Jesus did. It just exceeds our ability to comprehend!

He left His Father's throne above
(so free, so infinite His grace!),
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

'Tis mystery all: th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

- Charles Wesley, 1738

Here is a link to the music for these verses.

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