Go Down To Go Up

In every culture, place and clime,
At least one idea is pervasive.
For some reason this paradigm,
Disparate peoples have found persuasive.

“The lesser among us should serve the greater”,
But Jesus turned this notion upside down.
He descended to our pockmarked crater,
To serve us that we might be found.

He Who is infinitely above all others,
Stooped down to wash our feet.
To ransom us as His sisters and brothers,
He gave us His flesh to eat.

By this I mean He gave up His life,
When He chose to suffer and die in our place.
The sinless One bore our sin and strife,
Showing us love, mercy and grace.

If He, the greatest, became the most low,
This means we must go down to go up.
Christ left Heaven’s splendor for pain and sorrow,
When He drained God’s foaming, wrath cup.

But this trail of tears ended not in the grave;
It gave way to exaltation and glory.
From the depth of the cross, He rose mighty to save,
And rewrote our sorrowful story.

When we trust in Christ our sin is forgiven;
We’re raised to life and sent out to serve.
By no power of darkness can we, from Him, be riven,
As we press on with vigor and verve.

Though in this world for a short time,
We too will experience pain and sorrow.
With hearts full of peace we trudge on through the grime,
With the joyful certainty of a brighter tomorrow.

Joy comes from tears shed in service to God;
Seats of honor from seasons of suffering.
Those who take up their cross and with Christ trod,
Eternal life and glory will be discovering.

Cast off what’s perceived as best in this world;
This place we live in is passing away.
Those who, hope and trust, on Christ have hurled,
Will gain life in Him Who rose on the third day.

Follow His example, serving others in love,
And proclaim, graciously, the good news.
All who bow low before Him will be raised above,
And win far more than what, in this world, they lose.