Into The Darkness

II Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.                         

The captain of a sleek United States ship of war has at his back the reputation and might of the most powerful nation on earth.  When he speaks he carries the weight and spirit of America.  When this lone man in a lone ship on a lone sea far from friendly shores takes forceful action, he commands the will of a whole nation.  Any enemy bold enough to take a look can see the glory of America when he spies the captain strolling on the bridge of his ship.  To tangle with the captain and his ship is to tangle with all of America; which is to pick a fight with the most powerful nation on earth and is fanciful folly beyond sane expectation.  Every port sees the parade of sailors manning the gunwales of the ship and reminds all who see of the character and soul of America.  Any vessel caught in the wake as it passes can feel the suppressed power rumbling through its wake.  Yet, the captain is but a man in a uniform. 

When the captain steps off the ship in port he leaves behind the glory of the Unites States of America.  On the long walk down the gangplank he flings the wrappings of power, might, and majesty over the rails with each passing step.  As he finally steps onto the ground he has disrobed the vesture of the United States Navy and is left with only the trappings of his former glory; a well-worn, comfortable, and tailor made suit we call a uniform; his cloak of office.

The Son of God held the unlimited power and unequaled might of God’s glory in his fingertips.  He was arrayed in a splendor we can’t begin to imagine.  Jesus is all aspects and character of God.  When He acts He acts the will of God.  The entire universe is at His command.  Every citizen of Heaven can feel the radiating light of His holiness.  Yet, He parted ways with immortality and became but a mortal man clothed in righteousness.

When the savior of the world left glory He left behind the glory of God.  On the trek down the ladder of descent He flings the wrappings of power, might, and majesty to the corners of Heaven.  As He is born of a virgin He has lost the vesture due the Son of God and is left with only the trappings of his former glory; a well-worn, comfortable, and tailor made suit we call righteousness; His robe of office.

Naked of prestige, He fumbled and tumbled as any toddler, but held tightly to the lapels of righteousness.  The light of the Son of God was kept at bay and darkness reigned in the world about Him.  After a short time God the Father allowed a little light to shine through.  Jesus let out just enough to let the blind see.  His righteousness was perceived as part and parcel of the man.  There was no delineation and no separation of one from the other.  Jesus was righteousness.  Devoid of any other heavenly apparel, righteousness was almost too much for man to bear.  They hid from the light of righteousness thinking their piteous imaginations bright and fair.  Without any prompting the righteousness of the Son of God became wider and brighter.  It encompassed the whole world and consumed the darkness of man-made attempts at holiness.  Every man who claimed righteousness by their own merit suffered defeat when the feigned, simpering, bloody, mess of men’s accomplishments met the pure light of the righteousness of Christ.  Men were defeated at every turning and the darkness could not win. 

Only those who came humbly, denying their own righteousness, found the light appealing and revealing.  For these few the light became their all.  On Jesus they pledged their trust and on Jesus they found life.  Out of the darkness they came, some alone, or two by two.  There was Andrew and Peter, James and John, Philip, then Nathanael and many more to follow.  Finally, the light became too much to bear and men set about to snuff the light that deadly darkness might reign again.

By illegal trial they accused the light by dark of night. 

In mockery they stabbed with dark darts and deeds. 

They could not extinguish the light and sought a greater power and might. 

Not even Rome could spoil the righteousness of Christ. 

Naked, they crucified Him, thinking to remove the light of Him. 

Naked, the light shone brighter still, grasping for the hearts of darkness. 

It was men He sought to save,

Not the darkness in which they slaved. 

So dark the souls of men,

In light of God’s mercy they cringed. 

Yet, resolute Jesus continued to abide the plan of God for men. 

It was not men who killed the God-man.  It was not men that put out the light. 

The Christ died for love, broken hearted, when God placed on him our sin.

And the Father snuffed the light of His Son, forlorn, forsaken. 

Jesus came with righteousness alone

In glory it grew and became His throne.

In all His eternal day He knew no sin,   

On this dark day it was all put on Him.

Darkness invaded and ran to reclaim,

But lost the foray with His final exclaim. 

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Darkness danced for nigh three days,  

Then Jesus rose in triumph from the grave.

The light shone fresh and new

And in every believer a new creature shone too. 

The savior ascended and took His light home,

But sent the Comforter with a light of His own. 

Today, it shines in every believer, some dimly, some bright. 

Jesus said to do as He did. 

Go into the darkness and let our light shine.