His Simplicity

Though His book foretold it, the virgin birth didn’t fit the theology of the Pharisees.

Coming as an infant wasn’t a good enough image for a King;

They wanted pomp and splendor, decrees for their nation to glorify the priests.

But You came in humility, clothed with rags and born in a shelter.

The only ones who knew were those who brought you to life,

and those our Father prophesied to through the stars.

Those who studied Your Word didn’t recognize You.

In fact, they opposed You because You were too kind, too full of grace.

Their desire was for a despot who would overthrow their nation’s enemies.

And Your desire was—and is—to overthrow the enemy of their (and our) hearts.

Your kingdom doesn’t look like their understanding,

So they rejected it—then and still.

But You spurn them not.

You intercede for them—those You called Your people—

And those who came under Your cloak, as Ruth did with Boaz.

You are our Kinsman Redeemer, the One sent to save the world.

Your robes are humble and unattractive in appearance to our eyes.

But we cannot see the splendor that heaven does,

For our eyes are not yet fully opened.

The sound of heaven is intensely busy, some preparing for the arrival of many,

While others shine their battle dress and sharpen their weapons for the coming conflict.

There has never been a war like the one looming ahead…

How extraordinary that You have called the weak things of this world—

Your servants—to confound the wise.

How utterly fantastic that You have changed our name from “servant” to “friend,”

From outcast to chosen child.

 

Yet You are the real Sign and Wonder. 

The knowledge of You is what we seek and what our hearts cry out to grasp.

For Your magnificence is not obvious to the theologians,

Nor is Your power and glory yet manifesting in predictable ways.

But Your love is what overwhelms and transforms us.

Its strength is far greater than any weapon,  

And far more expansive than that of any nation.

Your love is sheltering, yet pushes us onward to do great things.

It is inspiring and undergirding, overwhelmingly full of grace

And fulfilling strategies that not even the greatest scholar of Your Word can predict.

Your love is the royalty that we seek, the power that we long to know.

Your glory is filled with it and Your kingdom breathes it.

No one can escape it except through death,

Which You already fulfilled so we can receive life for eternity.

Reveal Yourself, oh King, to the learned as well as to the simple.

Show the priests and wise men that You are far beyond their minds‘ reach,

That You reveal Yourself to children and Your plans to Your Beloved.

Dissolve our independence so that me may run to you,

Falling on both knees in deference to Your greatness.

Let us no longer hold others back by the limits our understanding places on You;

Help us to spur one another on to know You more and more.

Pull Your children close,

So that we may gaze upon Your splendor, wonderful Messiah!