Jesus Came to 'Taste Our Sadness'
You know how you go through seasons where one song is your favorite song? My two-year-old, Penny, is obsessed with Jingle Bells. She sings it all the time. She sings it in the morning. She sings it in the car. She sings it at nap time. She sings it before bed. It’s amazing to me that even a 2-year-old can have a favorite song.
Jingle Bells is a little worn out on me to say the least, but I can never grow tired of my favorite Christmas hymn “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”. I was introduced to this song by a pastor of mine in 2006 and every year since it has always had affected me.
God continues to make me aware of just how great Jesus’ sacrifice was for me on the cross. I am confident I’ll never know the full gravity of that act, but Advent always provides a heightened awareness of it for me. I don’t think I could ever write such beautiful poetry as displayed in the third verse of this hymn by Charles Wesley:
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end
By his life he brings us gladness,
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall
This the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all
When I hear this, or when I sing it, I am overwhelmed with emotion. That the Father sent his Son to taste our sadness. To become like us. To share in our sufferings. And now, in the Son’s life, there is gladness because we have redemption through his cross. This is an everlasting wonder. May God continually open our eyes to see this wonder day after day. Let him burn it into our memory.
Looking forward to worshipping with you Sunday. - Matt Bowen, Minister of Music & Worship