Christ’s Love passes all knowledge. Sometimes we can become so down on our own failings and sins that it shatters us. At such times we must remember Christ’s unfathomable grace.
Herbert’s poem is written in old English and may put some people off. Nevertheless it came to me when I needed it. Hopefully it will be of some comfort to others as well.
George Herbert
Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack’d anything.
“A guest,” I answered, “worthy to be here.”
Love said, “You shall be he.”
“I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot lean on Thee.”
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
“Who made the eyes but I?”
“Truth, Lord; but I have marr’d them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.”
“And know you not,” says Love, “who bore the blame?”
“My dear, then I will serve.”
“You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my
meat.”
So I did sit and eat.
Charles Spurgeon
(Courtesy of Blue Letter Bible)
“The love of Christ which passes knowledge.” Ephesians 3:19
The love of Christ in its sweetness, its fullness, its greatness, its faithfulness, passes all human comprehension. Where shall language be found which shall describe His matchless, His unparalleled love towards the children of men? It is so vast and boundless that, as the swallow but skims the water, and dives not into its depths, so all descriptive words but touch the surface, while depths immeasurable lie beneath.
Well might the poet say, “O love, thou fathomless abyss!” for this love of Christ is indeed measureless and fathomless; none can attain unto it. Before we can have any right idea of the love of Jesus, we must understand His previous glory in its height of majesty, and His incarnation upon the earth in all its depths of shame.
But who can tell us the majesty of Christ? When He was enthroned in the highest heavens He was very God of very God; by Him were the heavens made, and all the hosts thereof. His own almighty arm upheld the spheres; the praises of cherubim and seraphim perpetually surrounded Him; the full chorus of the hallelujahs of the universe unceasingly flowed to the foot of His throne: He reigned supreme above all His creatures, God over all, blessed for ever.
Who can tell His height of glory then? And who, on the other hand, can tell how low He descended? To be a man was something, to be a man of sorrows was far more; to bleed, and die, and suffer, these were much for Him who was the Son of God; but to suffer such unparalleled agony – to endure a death of shame and desertion by His Father, this is a depth of condescending love which the most inspired mind must utterly fail to fathom. Herein is love! and truly it is love that “passes knowledge.” O let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude, and lead us to practical manifestations of its power.
Augustus Toplady
(Courtesy of Spurgeon’s Own Hymn Book)
My name from the palms of His hands
Eternity will not erase;
Impress’d on His heart it remains
In marks of indelible grace:
Yes, I to the end shall endure,
As sure as the earnest is giv’n;
More happy but not more secure,
The glorified spirits in heaven.
Maranatha
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