Lord Jesus Christ, this is our tribute to who you are for us.
You were seen by your disciples’ eyes, touched by their hands, heard by their ears, proclaimed by their lips. You are bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. You became flesh and dwelt among us–as one of us, doing so for us. You manifested the glory of God in human form, full of grace and truth. Now out of the fullness of your incarnation we will forever receive one blessing after another.
You came among us as one of us, yet without sin, so that now we too can have fellowship with the Father, even as your blood keeps on purifying us from all sin. You did this for us! You are ready to do this for all the nations!
You also are the atoning sacrifice not only for our sins but for the sins of the whole world. You said that you did not come to be served but to serve, and to give your life as a ransom for many. Truly, it pleased the Father for all of his fullness to dwell in you, so that through you he might reconcile all things back to himself, making peace by your blood shed on the cross.
It was you who took up our infirmities for us. It was you who carried our sorrows for us. It was you who was pierced for our transgressions; it was you who was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brings us peace with God landed on you. By your wounds we are healed—by yours and yours alone.
More than that, you are the Resurrection and the Life, both for us and as well as for all creation that waits for you to deliver it from its bondage to decay. That’s why you said that those who live and believe in you will never die. That’s why you also said that whoever hears your word and believes in the Father who sent you has eternal life, and will not be condemned, but has already crossed over from death to life. That’s why you said that because you live we shall live also. That’s why you said that the time has already come when the dead will hear your voice and those who hear will live because the Father has granted to you, his Son, to have life in yourself—for our sakes.
Truly, you are the Living One. And so, because of you and you alone, we live by the power of God as we give ourselves to you every day of this life and then for all ages to come.
But then, before your disciple’s eyes, you ascended into the throne room of heaven to take your place at the right hand of God, the Father almighty. Exalted on high, you now have a name that is above every name, both in this age and in the age to come. The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ, and you are now in charge, with no competitors and no successors. Your scepter stretches without limits over creation, over history, over governments, over nations, over demons, and above all, over your Church.
Therefore, King of the Ages, we lift you up as the Lamb of God slain, with wounds still visible above—the One who has become the Lion of Judah ruling, with all authority in heaven and earth. We join the praises of the sacred throngs of heaven as well as the redeemed saints of earth as we say, “You are worthy! You are worthy! You are worthy of all glory, honor, power and blessing!”
Ascended, anointed, and crowned as supreme in all things, today you are filling the universe with your sovereignty, your majesty, your activity, and your presence.
Come, therefore, set up your throne among us, right here and right now. Conquer us. Exercise full sway in our lives, in our churches, in our communities, in our country, in our generation—and above all in our hearts—world without end.
AMEN!
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