I was listening to Mighty to Save recently (I’m repenting of my prejudice against Christian music) and a line jumped out at me and I’ve been thinking of it ever since. The bridge, “Shine your light and, let the whole world see. We’re singing, for the Glory, of the risen King.” The risen King. It’s too early for Easter (I still have my Christmas lights up outside), but that truth resonates with me. It reminds me of a time of simpler faith, when the image of “the risen King” was inspiring instead of cynical.
We will sometimes talk about how our Jesus isn’t the Jesus in Sunday school pictures- handsome, surrounded by children, holding a lamb. Instead, our Jesus challenged authority, was rugged, wasn’t afraid to call someone out on their sin. But both can be true. That’s what’s so amazing about Jesus, he is a theological and philosophical paradox- God and man, fierce and gentle, loved and feared. And the image of the risen King is the same- how could the ruler of the coming kingdom be victorious in a brutal public death?
When I heard this line I thought of Aslan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The king who was slain in order to save his people. To me, that’s a childish image. But it shouldn’t be. Jesus is my king, and there’s nothing childish about that. It’s encouraging to know that the King of the Universe cares enough about little ole me to save me and give me a seat next to him in his kingdom.
But while this line inspired me, I was saddened by how cynical my faith has become. Maybe I’m too logical? If you’ve read more than one of my posts, maybe you’ve come to the same conclusion. Instead, I should be more like Jesus himself instructed:
“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 18:3-4)
So this has inspired me to simplify my faith and get back to the basics. Jesus is Lord. So who is Jesus? I plan on starting the year digging deep into Jesus’ life, and instead of trying to overthink everything and come up with some deep theology, reflect instead of his life and how he saved mine. Corny? Maybe. But sometimes we need a simple faith.