The summer after I graduated high school I was looking for something to do before my fall plans kicked in. I got a job at Subway because I had a connection and I heard you get a free sub every day. It was fine, but after a week of working there, a friend told me about a trip his church was taking to Mexico to work with orphans and rescue a boat. That sounded much more intriguing, so I asked my Subway boss if I could have two weeks off. He laughed and said, “No problem,” knowing I would not be coming back — and he was right!
At the beginning of the trip, we gathered at a church. We met in the sanctuary before boarding the bus. At the end of the meeting a couple of young people — just like me — started playing guitar and singing a simple song:
You came from heaven to earth, to show the way
From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay
From the cross to the grave,
From the grave to the sky,
Lord I lift Your name on high
This was a new experience for me — not the singing of a worship song, I had done that before — but this song of worship was led by young people, and it didn’t seem like it was written a thousand years ago, and I was surrounded by young people drawing deep meaning and connection in singing these words altogether.
Over the years it has amazed me to find people all over the world who know this song and draw the same deep meaning and connection in singing the words altogether. When I lived in Belize as a missionary, we sang this song in our church services. It was the same song, but a guy added a couple of rap interludes which gave it more meaning and connection in that context. There is nothing particularly special or unique about the song, but the message is clear and simple, and it echoes the best news the world has ever heard.
Though It is not a Christmas song, much of the Christmas message is summed up in the chorus. Jesus came to earth to show us the way. Jesus went to the cross to pay the price for all the times we veer from His way. And then, Jesus went from cross to grave and grave to the sky to prove He was, is, and always will be the Lord on high. That is some good tidings of great joy for all people on whom His favor rests and are willing to call Him Lord.
Scripture says it this way:
1 Peter 2:21 (NLT) tells us how Jesus came “to show the way” to life:
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:”
1 John 2:1-2 (NIV) tells us how Jesus came “to pay” our sin debt:“He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”
Philippians 2:6-11 (NIV) tells us how “lifting His name on high” is the correct response to what Jesus did through His advent:“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming 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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Over the next few days, take a good half hour or so and get away from it all. In that silence and solitude draw near to Jesus. Listen for His thoughts and feelings. And thank Him for ten things He has done for you, naming them one by one.
Merry Christmas to you and yours as you remember when the hopes and fears of all the years met in one holy night.
– David
Reminder:
Christmas Eve services 3:00, 4:30, 6:00 pm
Sunday December 26th only one service 10 am
If you are interested in volunteering to help an evangelistic outreach on New Year’s Eve, let me know.