[155]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JESUS ELEVATED IN THE MIDST
Not I, but Christ. That is how it ought to be. That is the emphasis we need to have in our living and ministry. I am nothing without my Lord. If I think I am something I am deluded. If I think the ability is mine I am a disgrace. It is in Christ and of Him. {{Galatians 6:3 “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself”}}
That is one aspect of elevating the Lord Jesus Christ. We lift Him up because He is before all things, way in eternity, before all things.
If I draw attention to myself, I have elevated man. If my preaching is egocentric, then I have replaced the Lord and elevated myself.
This poem looks at Jesus elevated and sitting on the donkey on what we call Palm Sunday. It follows that story to the temple. Also there is a shorter part of Jesus’ elevation when placed before Pilate, and when He, as the Lamb of God, in heaven, receives the scroll and breaks the seals.
Most off the poem is connected with Palm Sunday with stanzas interspersed in the poem. {{Matthew 21:9 The multitudes going before Him, and those who followed after were crying out saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:15 but when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant.}}
What do I want from the poem? Well, I want all to see the majesty of the Lord, and that He is worthy and that He must always be elevated before us, not equal to us, or disgracefully less than us as where some mega church preachers have placed Him.
Also this can be used for Palm Sunday in whole or in part.
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JESUS ELEVATED IN THE MIDST
Upon a colt they seated You,
And spread their garments in the way;
They sang aloud, Hosannas true,
To honour You that special day.
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They praised the One, in God’s name, come.
They cut the branches from the palms.
Not one tongue there, that day was dumb.
Arose to Him, their joyful psalms.
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Hosannas now to David’s Son!
Hosannas in the highest, cry!
And He was seated in their midst
And heard them, as He passed on by.
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But Christ knew well their fickleness;
Knew perfectly what they would cry;
In four more days, in stubbornness,
The Christ-Messiah they’d deny.
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We see Him in the midst again;
Before the crowd at Pilate’s side.
“This man o’er us will never reign!
Away with Him! Be crucified!”
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Now in the midst of heaven’s throne,
The Lion as the Lamb will stand.
Receives the book, this Lord we own;
Receives it from His Father’s hand.
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A song then sung unto the Lamb
Because of His true worthiness.
Fulfilment of Moriah’s ram,
Who saved us from our sinfulness.
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But on the colt He moved along,
And in their midst He sat there still.
Some went before, of that large throng;
Some followed after, with a will.
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The prophets went before His cross,
But we have followed, after Christ.
Now in the midst - removed, all dross,
With them we know how sins were priced.
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Oh, worthy is the Lamb once slain!
Receives honour, riches, glory!
Add power, wisdom, strength. He’ll reign.
We’ll sing there redemption’s story.
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But even in the temple there,
The children’s praise continued loud;
“Hosannas to the Son!” declared.
Yes, children’s hearts to Him were bowed.
Do we maintain our praise to Him,
Along the busy streets of life?
And let that praise o’erflow the brim
From Sunday, with the same praise type?
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Yes, worthy is the Lamb who died;
Who gave His life for us back then.
All praise to Him, who sin defied -
The Saviour of repentant men.
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5 -6 April, 1998 R E Ferguson 8-8-8-8 ABAB