Jesus the Redeemer

Yesterday at Church we sang one of my favourite hymns, in the modern and exciting style we do at Trent. You may have sung it. It often pops up around Christmas time. "There is A Redeemer" is a wonderful proclamation of some of the deep truths of Christmas, the deep truths of Jesus. Its powerfully Trinitarian, it proclaims the power of the Cross, and it looks forward to heaven. I reproduce the lyrics below;

"There is a Redeemer,
Jesus, God's own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One

Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
An leaving Your Spirit,
'Til the work on Earth is done.

Jesus my Redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Hope for sinners slain.


Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
'Til the work on Earth is done.

When I stand in Glory,
I will see His face,
There I'll serve my King forever,
In that Holy Place.


Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
An leaving Your Spirit,
'Til the work on Earth is done."

Its a great song. Its often got a singable tune, but ultimately what makes it great is the truth it shares. Jesus is the redeemer. He died, on the Cross, having come to earth as God as a man. We know from the records of Jesus' life that we have, the New Testament Gospel accounts, that Jesus related to God the Father, and that the Spirit continues Jesus saving and transforming work even today. This is a great song, that aptly and powerfully makes sense of the idea that Jesus is the Redeemer - who has redeemed us, is redeeming us, and will redeem us. 

Redemption is the heart of the Gospel. Because the Cross is the heart of the Gospel. Christian faith isn't static, fixed, dull. It is a living, moving, breathing thing. History is moving towards Jesus' second coming - which we can remember and long for even as we remember the first coming, the first Christmas. The baby who was born 2000 (and a bit) years ago grew up to be the man - who was also God - who was brutally executed for the sins of the world, of all the people that God loves, the event that culminated in the Resurrection. Because the Church year isn't static. The cycle of birth, death, life and resurrection is the rhythm of redemption that centres on the Cross but is a song that echoes through eternity.

So where are we in the unfolding story, the never-ending song?

Simple.

Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
'Til the work on Earth is done.

We are getting on with the work. Thankful and adopted by the Father, secure and saved by the Son, and loved and equipped by the Spirit, for the work of the Gospel and the cause of the King.

The Christian Gospel is not about one moment, it is about following Jesus in all and through all of life. This Christmas we don't celebrate an event - we celebrate a living and vital person, who came to give us a living and vital reality, redeeming us from our sin.