Full of Grace, Full of Truth

His kindness overwhelmed them from the start:

the way he chose his students:

            hearts that yearned for meaning

            beyond fishing nets or taxes;

            welcoming the seventy,

            both genders, to his company—

the way he saved the day for his mom’s friend:

            reaching back to first creation,

            crunching time by his own Word

            he said, “Let there be wine,”  

            and there it was, the best—

the way he broke the rules that kept the stranger

            snubbed and minimized;

            he crushed the prejudice  

            that said a woman should not  

            learn, sitting at his feet—

the way he took a trip and waited by a well

            to meet an outcast woman,

            to let her know that she could thrive

            by drinking living water,

            accepted and forgiven—

the way he fed the hungry lingering crowd,

            rewrote a blind man’s lifeline,

            let children climb into his lap

            and touched untouchables,

            his purity the remedy.

His goodness split the confines of the box.

And with his kindness came God’s truth:

the word that let the rich man know

            that following the rules

            would never bring him life;

            the only way to freely sail

            was to haul in his anchors—

the word that fired his makeshift whip

            to chase the rottenness

            of greed and selfishness

            out of the place reserved

            for penitence and praise—

the word that underlined his power,

            that healed a dying child

            from very far away,

            that said, “Get up and walk!”

            and lameness took a hike—

the word that turned their eyes away

            from temporary gluttony:

            the food that spoils,

            the search for yet more  

            thrills instead of treasure—

the word that showed them who God is:

            forgiving Father,

            rescuing Son,

            Spirit bringing birth to spirit—

            new creation, life begun!

He was the living truth that changed them all.

Postscript:

His kindness offered favors

not one of them deserved.

The truth flowed out of him

and overturned the world—

the night turned into sunrise,

rule-keeping became love,

surrender moved from slavery

to the status of a son.

And time could not contain this grace.

The “I Am” made the promises

as true for me, as real for you,

as when his glory walked the earth

in flesh and bones, in word and work.

 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn. 1:14 NIV)

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (Jn. 1:9 NIV)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14 NIV)

When his grace shines on us we have rescue and hope. His light shone in the darkness that was over Israel, and it shines into us. Then we know the truth, the real solid unshakeable truth: God’s light became truly visible through the words and work of Jesus, revealing what he values and accomplishing his purpose. That gift of grace continues to be our portion as we walk with him in the light, made new by his unmerited favor poured out on us.  Night has sturned into sunrise! Life with him will never end in this New Day!