As the turbulent year 2020 comes to a close, it is helpful to pause and consider the timeless question that transcends all ages. This hymn meditation reflects on the question, “How can I get right with God?”
At the writing of this meditation, the year 2020 is coming to a close. Many would say. . . thankfully so. Although we think of 2020 as a symbol of clarity and seeing things without any fuzziness, the year 2020 has been anything but that! This year has caused us to ask many more probing questions than any other year I can remember.
Specifically, we have great questions about our physical and financial health in the face of the COVID pandemic. We have many questions about the future of our country and the world in the face of the November general elections.
Those questions are still not fully resolved. And, we all have many more individually specific questions that cause pause, worry, paralysis and even panic.
But, there is one question that rises above all the others. Yet, it is not very high on the priority list for many of us! The most important question that I can ever ask or ponder is as follows.
How can I, who have violated God’s laws in the past and who violates them in the present and who will violate them in the future. . . because I cannot help myself. . . how can I “get right with God”?
This is the question for all time regardless of health, politics, race, economic status, educational level, or any other human condition. How can I get to heaven? What must I do, believe. . . etc.?
From my perspective, there is only one source for the answer to that question. . . it is the Bible. One would normally think of the New Testament as the place to look. Perhaps one would start with John 3:16 and go from there. That would certainly not be wrong! In fact, there are many appropriate places to look for the answer to this fundamental question. We will get to our passage shortly!
The title of our hymn for this meditation provides THE answer to our question . . . Jesus Messiah! But, it is not just the title; the words and this video setting for the hymn combine to lift us to a new and clearer understanding of Jesus as our Savior! The words are as follows.
The title of our hymn for this meditation provides THE answer to our question . . . Jesus Messiah! But, it is not just the title; the words and this video setting for the hymn combine to lift us to a new and clearer understanding of Jesus as our Savior! The words are as follows.
He became sin, who knew no sin
That we might become His righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross
Love so amazing, love so amazing
Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all
His body the bread, his blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled, and the veil was torn
Love so amazing, love so amazing
Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all
All our hope is in You, all our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God, the light of the world
Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all
About the composer
The hymn was written by Chris Tomlin and released in 2008. It rose to #1 on the iTunes Christian Gospel chart. Chris was born in Grand Saline, Texas. When he was 11, he contracted mononucleosis and was bedridden for a short time. During this time he learned to play the guitar by listening to Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. Chris is currently associated with Passion Conferences and has been a worship leader all his adult life. Tomlin wrote this song based on initial work done by Daniel Carson who plays guitar in his worship band. Chris was looking for a way to use “Messiah” in a song. Well, he found it!
The message of the hymn
The words of our hymn really spell out the gospel . . . the good news. These lyrics provide a clear and biblical answer to our question. Let’s examine some of the descriptors used in the hymn for Jesus.
- Messiah – the king to come
- Redeemer – the one who pays the debt we owe
- Emmanuel – God with us
- Rescue for sinners – the one who saves us from our sins
- Ransom from heaven – come from Heaven to pay the price for our release
- Lord of all – one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess this truth
Along with the hymn and this particular performance, I have chosen Isaiah 53 as our passage for meditation. You might think it strange to select an Old Testament selection. But, Isaiah and this chapter specifically, seem very appropriate for our mediation. The more I have learned about Isaiah the more convinced I am of the book’s application to our question.
Before we get into the details, it is interesting to observe the following facts about Isaiah.
- It has 66 chapters . . . the Bible has 66 books
- It is divided into two major segments
- 39 chapters on the judgment of God . . . Old testament = 39 books
- 27 chapters on salvation. . . New testament = 27 books
- The last 27 chapters can be divided into 3 sections as follows.
- 1st nine on the salvation from Babylon
- 2nd nine on the salvation from sin in general
- 3rd nine on the salvation of the world . . . future kingdom
- Chapter 53 is the middle chapter of the last 27 chapters . . . on salvation
This chapter clearly describes Jesus and His role in our salvation. Amazingly, the book of Isaiah was written approximately 700 years before the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This prophecy of the coming of Christ and the details regarding His ministry on earth is proof enough of the divine inspiration of the Bible! Let’s look at some of the details.
The first three verses explain the fact that the nation of Israel did not believe Him or His message. What He preached was completely contrary to their religion. He was like a dead root sticking up in dry ground. He was not appealing in looks . . . nothing in His appearance would cause them to be attracted to him. He was sad and lowly and a man of suffering. They were looking for a handsome king like David or Saul to lead them and conquer their enemies. So, they paid Him no attention. They gave Him no honor in spite of the miracles He performed. “They esteemed Him not.”
But, they do come to realize the truth as described beginning in verse 4. They realize that He suffered for a reason. They realize that they are sinners in the eyes of God and they need a savior. They realize that they have gone astray . . . ”like sheep they have all gone astray.”
They see that God has punished Him for their sins. “He bore the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors.”
The way to “get right”
This is the good news for us today. This is the answer to our fundamental question. Jesus, Messiah, is the one and only way in which we can “get right” with God.
But, just as the nation of Israel must first acknowledge that they need a savior, a redeemer, one to ransom them from their sins . . . so must we! They believed that they were right with God because they were descendants of Abraham, because they kept the laws, and because they performed the rituals of the church. They believed that they could earn their way to Heaven based on their own works.
The Bible is very clear on the way to “get right.” Salvation is a gift from God . . . so that no one can boast. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father (Heaven and eternal life) except through Jesus. This is a clear and recurring theme of the New Testament. It is God’s plan of salvation. And, we see it described here in this wonderful chapter in Isaiah.
My hope and prayer is that we will ask this most basic question. How can I “get right with God”? And, may our answer be, Jesus Messiah, Lord of All!
Amen.
Hymns for Him 