A few months back I began writing blog posts focusing on the lyrics in a song we sing here regularly at King’s Chapel called Behold Our God. If you’re unfamiliar you can listen to it HERE. Well written and musically rich songs are good, but songs rooted in the truth of Scripture are far better. So what I’m doing in these posts is looking at the song verse by verse exploring the truths that are packed into it. The title of this song is fitting because the lyrics take us through many amazing characteristics of our God: God’s Grandeur, Genius, Gospel, and Glory. In this post we will explore the Gospel.
Verse 3
“Who has felt the nails upon His hands, bearing all the guilt of sinful man? God eternal, humbled to the grave Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign!”
Just let those words sink in for a moment.
This verse though small is loaded with truth. We’ll look at the first half of the verse, and next time we’ll explore the second half of this verse as we examine God’s Glory.
Good Friday is a little under a month away, and each year we a reminded of what Jesus endured for us. It’s always an emotionally draining gathering for all. Why is that? Because we witness (as best we can 2,000years later) a small glimpse of what Christ endured for us. No matter what retelling of the passion narrative we watch, there is no easy way to watch as our Lord is beaten. There is no easy way to see the nails penetrate Christ’s body. It’s particularly hard because we somewhat understand physical pain, in one way or another we’ve experienced it. So we see and recognize that the physical pain Christ endured is far greater than anything we ever want to.
What none of us can truly understand, is what it feels to carry the guilt of all the sins of mankind. Think just for a moment how heavy laden you feel when carrying your own sin…imagine that 1,000,000 times over. That’s what Jesus endured on the cross. That’s the weight Jesus carried upon his shoulders. And He did it for you and for me, so that we could be freed from the weight of our sin! We need to internalize and rest in that truth daily. It’s easy to get caught up in our own sin and punish ourselves, but we need remember Someone was already punished for our sin…Jesus!
When we sin we need to confess our sins, repent and turn from them, knowing He will forgive us. (1 John 1:9) And Paul reminds us that in Christ we no longer need to walk in fear of condemnation. (Romans 8:1-2) Be encouraged today, that if your faith is in Christ that your identity is a child of God, and that nothing can tear you from his love. (Romans 8:37-39) Rest and rejoice in the gospel!