What now? Recap: Isaiah Light to the Nations series - Tim Knipp

Two pictures:
one a lighthouse;
beacon, warning,
example, guide.
the other a mirrored image, 
shrouded in shadow,
exposing false lights
and deeds of oppression
heaped like fermenting laundry
in a windowless room.

Trusting
- the might of armies
and glittering steel,
- the undertow of 
popularity,
- the tangible thrills
and momentary amusements
that distract and 
tantalize -
will leave you bankrupt,
hollow.
But tough love lets you go
after what you hunger for;
you will grasp your heart's desire
and find it sizzles your fingers,
scorching flesh.

When you are ready
to come home,
one will lead you
over earthly miles
and One will
span the impossible divide
between you and the God
you have spurned.

Sing at the goodness
of your Creator
whose servant will suffer
on your behalf.
Sing! Rejoice!
For your offspring
will multiply
and you will be
beautiful
in the Bridegroom's eyes -
look how He adores you
and sing.
Though you bear the scars
and twisted tangle
of errant choices
and though you waver
even now to take 
the extended hand,
just meet His eyes -
see His invitation
and step into 
the dance.

He is Alive! Christian Lindbeck

Glory Seeds; Isaiah: Light to the Nations - Christian Lindbeck (Matt. 21:1-11; Isa. 52 & 53; 6:1-3, Heb. 12:2; John 6:37)

Nazarene nobody and yet

coming king
enters the thronged city - 
occupied by conquerors
on a night of freedom parties.
Suspicion and mystery
cloak His humble shoulders,
this raiser of the dead -
"how dare he?"

The lamb of God comes
on Lamb Day
and chooses His route
as carefully as etching
on stone the connections
to prophecies
and long-held expectations.
Air explodes like
fireworks
as enemies and 
participants alike 
read the signs (and respond
accordingly).

Yet it is only a dirty figure
on a filthy donkey
who stirs up such a cloud
of dust and furor.

Examine Him closely,
see how He blossoms
through choosing well
His words and deeds.
He will ultimately defeat Death
and be lifted upon a pedestal
to be worshiped in holiness
and honor;
all will see the resemblance -
like Father, like Son.

He stuns kingdoms
by His sacrifice and 
transformation -
their mouths gape in 
wordless wonderment.

His death will generate
a legacy of children 
yet unborn
and He will open the way
for God's plan 
to propagate.
In His agony 
He will open His eyes
to see triumph envelop
the years and
rescue generations.
Multitudes will be gathered,
faces upturned
to catch the gentle light
shining from 
tortured eyes.

Frayed robes and all,
King and nobody -
divine and mortal...
consider Him.
Consider His offer:
to lay down your rights 
for a taste of true liberation;
to give to receive;
to live open-handed
that glory may come down
and filter through your fingers -
flick them freely 
and watch the sparkles
spawn.

The Way Home; Isaiah: Light to the Nations - Tim Knipp (Lev. 5:17-18a; 6:7; Isa. 53:1-11; Acts 8:27-35)

Flawed and fractured,
splintered and stained -
our best efforts laughably
inadequate;
Climbing upon backs
of the fallen,
we destroy with every step
we take
and all we touch
crumbles to talc...
It is a bleak view,
one easy to obsess on,
where many 
see no way
out.

Though you have been sent away,
yet I will call you home.
You will travel across 
physical miles
led by a mere man
to your earthly home.

One day I will send One greater
to bring your hearts finally home.
He will come from among you,
yet He will outshine all
in wisdom and kindness.
He will clothe himself in your shame,
willingly wearing disrespect
and humiliation in public view;
He will submit Himself to torture
and abuse, debased and neglected,
as one of zero value;
He will accept the punishment
for your brokenness and wicked deeds,
lashed for your disobedience,
reprimanded for your rebellion.
He will bring a full-bodied peace,
beyond your ability to comprehend;
He will bring wellness to body
and soul - smoothing eruptions
of flesh and staunching errant
blood flows,
a doctor of divine intent;
and He will bring the Way
across the vast divide
between you and I,
the bridge to leap the chasm
of sin and death 
finally and forever.

It is a done deal,
sealed in stone
and lit 
by the rosy pink dawn
of a future day.

The outcast, the ashamed,
those overcome with guilt
at their own shortcomings,
all who seek 
the suffering Servant
will find Him
in Christ -
our atonement,
our way
home.

Pass Me On; Isaiah: Light to the Nations series - Christian Lindbeck (Isa. 49:1-13; 2 Cor. 1-2: Acts 2:1-12; Matt. 5; Acts 13:47)

On the flip side -
unparalleled, paradoxical
and oxymoronic -
He is left side up
and True.

Puzzle pieces
slide into place,
camouflaged as coincidence,
only seen fully
and occasionally 
in retrospect.  
Community life
forms around celebrations
to illuminate 
Author-aspects
and whisper
hints
of eternal design.
All symbolic
of coming attractions,
rituals flesh out
and bones animate
in Christ.

"I am He who
has been anointed
from the time
before time;
prepared - sharpened,
and sent to 
serve
all who live -
all tribes and governments,
all skin tones and languages.
I am honed and trained
to serve -
first, people of my earthly flesh, 
Israel,
and then
the rest of my flesh, Humanity."

"When the time is right,
I will come through for you,
(and now is the time,
join me, won't you?)
I will draw people to me
from every corner
of a round planet."

See the multicultural crowd
gathered en masse,
lit like candles
and conversing without
translators.

"I am the Light source -
now carry me into the dark
like Olympic games 
torch bearers,
touching off ripples 
that upset pedantic paradigms,
baffle and confound
the cynical,
and watch the moral arc
of the universe
bend once again
towards Shalom."

He Comes, Yet Again (Isaiah: Light to the Nations) - Tim Knipp (Ex. 6; Isa. 40, 53)

A hero arrives -
a superhero no less -
performing deeds,
setting captives free
and defeating enemies
spectacularly.
Yet even freed,
we were not alone:
He led us,
dwelt with us
and provided a home.
A true hero,
powerful, loving,
and good.

Remember Me?
Your hero who loves
and redeems?
Be of good cheer,
prepare the way,
pronounce my coming
to those bowed down
in bondage.
My mighty arm is flexing
and I will come
to release you.
I will shield you from harm
and guard you 
as tenderly as a shepherd
his lambs
who tremble and wobble
in unspeakable fright.
Feel my heartbeat
as I carry you,
take my wounded hand
as you stumble
through the dark.
I will lead you home
yet again.

The wait stretches as long
as evening shadows
over pale desert sand.
Stories are told 
of One still coming,
but when, oh, when?
How long, Oh Lord?
Our waiting cataracts our eyes
and we nearly miss
Your coming again.
We grew used to the lull
and expected a cape
with muscles bulging,
not a mild-mannered,
dirt-shod 
rabbi.

Some will believe,
some refuse to see.
He came to bow down,
to lay Himself low,
broken and bruised,
receiving our wounds.
Though He spoke in symbols
for all to see:
saying look, oh look,
I am He - it is me!

A hero who loses?
A leader who is willingly weak,
choosing service
and torture
as rescue means?
A king who holds out
a pierced hand 
to help us along;
whose steps slow to match
our pace,
though He could easily stride
continents in a 
single bound...

He comes to 
redeem us,
yet again,
reminding us gently
of blood bled on 
our behalf
and flesh that felt
every agony of death
and separation
to spare us,
to save us,
yet again. 

(apologies if some of this sounds a bit Seuss-ish - I've just spent 2 1/2 months listening to those kind of rhymes and rhythms every weekday...sometimes it creeps in no matter what I say - aaahhh...I'm doing it again!)

His Ways Above Ours - Isaiah 55:8,9 Christian Lindbeck

Why limit the Limitless?

Doubt the ways He chooses?

My thoughts drab, without color, trapped

By pride and fear, 

Prejudice and envy

And doubt.

No, not that!

Unsafe, insane, unsuitable

Pretentiously presuming

His paths for us

And others.

His, the long game

True end from inception.

Exploding our notions

Of methodic mastery

Meandering from the mind of the Majestic.