Christ is Greater Than All

As I finished reading John Piper’s book on depression, When Darkness Will Not Lift, I was struck by the fact that we have a wonderful Savior. I suppose it is quite simple to sing Christ’s praises when all is going well and the warmth of the sun shines down upon our faces. But does that mean that Christ leaves our side when we stand under clouds of doubt and despair? Thankfully our Lord does not leave us at our weakest moments. Perhaps it is in those moments when our Great High Priest is at his busiest interceding on our behalf.

The writer to the Hebrews reminds us about our Lord Jesus Christ’s ongoing ministry on our behalf:

Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV)
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Christ Jesus does not abandon us to ourselves. And I am reminded that Christ’ ongoing heavenly ministry is intimately tied to his work of redemption. Christ is our perfect sacrifice and law keeper even when we may lose sight of that fact. If we have truly trusted in Christ for our justification, adoption, sanctification, and future glorification, then we cannot be separated from him in times of doubt and discouragement, no matter how severe. I was talking to a member of my congregation yesterday at the end of the morning service and he was sharing with me about the fact that one of his sisters has been lately having memory lapses. She is in her 90s and struggles with recognizing her own brother. But here’s the thing. I reminded my brother in the Lord that while his sister may not remember him (and that really is heart-wrenching for my friend) Jesus does not ever forget his own. Even if we should suffer the worst ravages of whatever mind-altering disease the Lord allows to come our way, and we cannot hold on to the memory of Christ, he holds on to us! Our Lord has promised us that he will not lose anyone of his dear one’s…ever.

John 17:5-12 (ESV)
And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. [6] “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. [7] Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. [8] For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. [9] I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. [10] All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. [11] And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. [12] While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

The picture at the top of the post is of the poet and hymn writer William Cowper (1731-1800). Cowper was a personal friend and parishioner of John Newton, the author of the hymn “Amazing Grace.” Cowper was one of those souls who suffered from melancholy most of his life, even his Christian life. He made multiple attempts at suicide. And Newton, modeling Christ for his friend, stood by him constantly reminding him of precious truths such as justification by faith and penal substitutionary atonement. These are glorious truths that impact us where we live. They are not mere abstract concepts. Newton had to regularly remind Cowper that Christ was holding o to him even when Cowper had little strength to hold on to Christ.

Someone once said that we have to crush a whole lot of flowers to get a miniscule amount of perfume. Hymns that speak the truth and touch the heart often have background stories that remind one of the crushing of flowers. Cowper wrote what is one of my favorite hymns. And this hymn points me and you (and Newton and Cowper himself) to the cross:

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.