Tag Archives: WY Fullerton

Wonder of wonders…

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I cannot tell how he will win the nations, how he will claim his earthly heritage,
How satisfy the needs and aspirations of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory, and he shall reap the harvest he has sown, and some glad day his sun will shine in splendour,
When he the Saviour, Saviour of the world is known.

I cannot tell how all the land shall worship, when at his bidding every storm is stilled,
Or who can say how great the jubilation when all our hearts with love for him are filled.
But this I know, the skies will sound his praises, ten thousand thousand human voices sing, and earth to heaven, and heaven to earth will answer,
'At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!'
(W.Y. Fullerton, 1857-1932)

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus…. who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead….

(Rom 1.1&3)

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.. each in his own turn; Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

(1 Cor 15.19-23)

[Christ Jesus].. being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Phil 2.5-11)

Let all God’s children cry, Amen! Let it be! For today we celebrate the defeat of our great enemy and the glorious assurance which has been won for us by Christ Jesus as he destroys the tyranny of sin and death, releasing us from bondage and bringing us to life in God’s kingdom now and in the age to come. We live in him today, and his power will carry us through the valley of death into his nearer presence and eternal fullness of life, a form of existence beyond our imagining in its pure and vivid perfection. Death is no longer to be feared, but faced with childlike trust in Jesus Christ and in the powerful promises of our Father God. Our elder brother has gone before us, and we can see him as we face that dark doorway, his arms extended in welcome and anticipating joy.

This victory, won once for all time and also gloriously effective day-by-day in our lives, is cause for boundless rejoicing, and will infuse our corporate praise today with great gladness. And as we contemplate the author of this victory, our Lord Jesus, we join our voices and our hearts with all the citizens of the heavenly realms in praising him, extolling his name and worshipping him. Surely he is worthy, worthy to receive so much more than our small songs and frail hearts can offer – but how marvellous to find that even our flawed offerings are cherished and welcomed, and that as we praise our Saviour, he abundantly blesses us and continues to pour out his love upon us. 

Oh Father, how we rejoice today in the wonderful revelation which is Easter Sunday! How we exult to see the tomb empty, and to hear the compassionate love of our Lord as he addressed Mary in her grief, turning mourning into dancing, and giving us an unshakeable hope!

We hear the spiritual realms reverberating with the deafening affirmation of our Lord’s defeat of sin and death; we catch the echo of the angelic shout of triumph as the risen Christ stepped from the grave and the morning sun fell upon his glorious face. We bow in worship before our Lord and Saviour, and wonder, with all the saints, at his glory, majesty, love and passion for sinners. How marvellous, how wonderful is your love for us in Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen

 

‘Tis mystery all….

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I cannot tell, why he whom angels worship should set his love upon the sons of men, 
Or why as shepherd he should seek the wanderers, to bring them back, they know not how nor when.
But this I know, that he was born of Mary when Bethlehems' manger was his only home, and that he lived at Nazareth and laboured; 
And so the Saviour, Saviour of the world has come.

I cannot tell, how silently he suffered as with his peace he graced this place of tears,
Nor how his heart upon the cross was broken, the crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted and stays our sin and calms our lurking fear, and lifts the burden from the heavy laden;
For still the Saviour, Saviour of the world is here.
(W.Y. Fullerton, 1857-1932)

How we struggle to live with mystery, with the impenetrable and apparently irreconcilable truths which lie at the heart of God’s revelation of His character, purposes and presence with his people in their brokenness and pain. I continue to find this difficult, and expect that no matter how long I am granted to live before I go home to glory, I will always wrestle with it. And is that not fitting, and right?! What kind of God would we have if we could fathom his nature and make sense of all his doings? No God at all, and certainly not the one we so desperately need!

I have come to terms with the fact that I will always be baffled, and left to wonder at all that is so utterly beyond me – and sometimes, I can join with the psalmist and be at peace with that unknowing. At other times, it grates, and I have to learn all over again that I am limited, created and as yet unfinished – and only God who is good and just and perfectly loving can make sense of all that happens.

And so, as I remember the events of Palm Sunday, and the coming of Messiah to Jerusalem, lowly and riding on a donkey while crowds cheered to welcome him, acclaiming a coming king, I take comfort from the fact that Jesus’ own followers were completely confused about what was happening, and why Jesus was behaving as he did! Human imagination is limited and we readily ascribe to the actions of others a meaning which suits our world view and desires – the crowds (and some disciples) were looking for deliverance from Roman rule, for a military leader, and although Jesus had consistently stepped away from any such role, yet they couldn’t see past it.

As the week unfolded, Jesus would continue to confound expectations, and many would be disappointed in his failure to fit their mould of what Messiah would be like. As a result, by the Friday morning, they were ready – in their resentment at his behaviour and the pain of dashed hopes – to call for his death at the instigation of the priests. This was none of Jesus’ doing, it all arose from their blindness to the much bigger picture of what Messiah would be and do, of God’s purpose to bring salvation to all humankind through this one perfect sacrifice, defeating the power of evil and inaugurating the heavenly kingdom among us. I must not judge those crowds for their narrow vision – I would very probably have fallen into the same trap, and indeed, the scripture clearly states that in our rebellion against God, we have all rejected the Messiah and brought about his death for our sakes. It was for me, for you that Jesus embarked upon this path of suffering and death.

Almighty God, and everlasting Father, I confess before you today that the mystery of Jesus’ suffering and death – your plan for salvation – is great, and I cannot comprehend it. I confess that sometimes I am ashamed at my limited understanding, and even afraid to share the gospel in case others mock me for making a connection between Jesus’ death over 2000 years ago, and our lives today. Forgive me Lord, and let me be bold to say what I DO know, and what you have mercifully made real in my life because of faith in Jesus. 

For this I know, You have healed my broken heart and given me joy; You have made me whole and delivered me from the power of shame; Your voice of love and your arms of tender care have never failed me; Your presence is my life and my hope is in you alone.

Let me then rejoice in the mystery of salvation, and throw myself unhesitatingly into the security of your loving purpose. There is no need to understand, only the glorious reality of living in what was achieved by my Saviour, good news to be shared with all who will hear it! 

All glory, praise and honour to Jesus Christ, my Lord, Amen!