How to describe…

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Karen Visser

Karen is a full-time Mom, part-time copywriter and part-time theology student. One of her goals in life is to be a complete Bible nerd, reading it in its original languages (and to one day win a game of Scrabble against her husband). She has three young children, a giant Great Dane and a house full of people.

Latest posts by Karen Visser (see all)

• Called by His Name – an emotional journey of spiritual and physical adoption - 21 Aug 2022
• How to describe… - 17 Apr 2022

How to describe 
this God of the Bible with a love so deep and wide?
It’s almost intangible, not understandable, got to learn to grapple 
with this God who is love – but not love alone.
There is justice, there is peace, there is jealousy there
as He poured out His wrath on His only begotten heir
who started out as a baby in a manger with animals around
and ended
on a cross
with a falsified crown.

But when you look closer, you see not misery - but hope. 
How else could He promise paradise to the thief as he choked
from the beating and the crown and the nails in His wrists?

And after a crying out to God, He offered up his life 
for the Gentile and the Jew and the man and his wife.
And the Roman who was there shouted out in agony
As he realised they had killed the King of eternity
purposely
thirstily
Who cast lots for His cloak as a certain courtesy.
 
Then Joseph and Nicodemus took the body from the cross
and placed it in a tomb as they felt their sense of loss.
And all mourned that great day when the veil tore in two, 
when the people rose from graves and the rocks broke right through.
 
And then a few days later on the road to Emmaus, 
the King Jesus we all know and love, the one who prays for us,
meets two men who were heartbroken,  
whose spirits needed stoking, 
whose tears they were choking in,
and reveals the Word of God from Moses to the present 
to show them this situation is exactly what was meant. 

And their hearts were opened to the wonder of the Word
And I know that sounds absurd because it’s King Jesus so of course their hearts were stirred.
But when we open that book, we can expect the same 
from the Name above all the Names, 
the Answer to the questions we proclaim.
With illumination from the Spirit and good teaching from the pulpit, 
He will sanctify and grow us to appreciate the nails, the spit, 
the crown of thorns upon His head. 
And in it we see our own sin, 
beckoning us since the beginning not to reconcile with Him. 
And we cry: “Jesus! Only You!”

I don’t want to bow to idols that I’ve fashioned with hand or mind,
that I don’t really understand like a drunken mastermind.
I am covered in sin 
and need your blood to stain me clean
That when God looks upon me, it‘s You that He is seeing. 
Open our eyes and hearts to worship You alone, 
who intercedes in Heaven before that rainbow throne,
who sends the Accuser home and shouts 
“not their righteousness, but my own.”

Thank you Jesus for that sacrifice You paid, 
the blood that sprayed,
that You stayed 
until it was done and the wrath was satisfied.
That You said it was finished and 
You offered up your life.

When we think of the cross and our sin and Your grace, 
We are reminded of Your promise to return to the human race.
And we sing and we shout for the King above all Kings 
who will be coming home, 
who can open the scroll and make Himself known
as the Lamb who is worthy to receive for eternity, 
the power and glory He deserves. 
We worship thee.

*Cover Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash