05/12/2023
Soaring little swallow, what do you see?
Enroute to Bethlehem from Nazareth,
love’s silhouette, encasing holy breath—
a pair of weary travelers, but three.
Awestruck little swallow, what see you now?
Angelic chorus singing Peace is here!
as shepherds shake in sacred, wondrous fear,
then rush to find a babe and to Him bow.
Resting little swallow, can you see more?
Great star shines brightly ‘gainst the darkened sky
while newborn Light breaks through an infant’s cry—
God’s brilliance swaddled, cradled, helpless, poor.
This babe you see in livestock manger lain,
created you and does your life sustain.
Incarnation’s mystery! God came down
in priestly vestments of frail human flesh,
left Glory’s Crown for lowly manger crèche,
Sacrifice born so lost sons could be found!
Our King-Priest grew as Carpenter, disguised,
to build a kingdom that would not be seen
except by those the world marked as ‘un-keen’—
His ‘sheep too dumb’ to walk as pride advised.
For just as Christ was birthed in humble state,
so too His kingdom’s children are reborn
through poverty of spirit, hubris torn,
to enter through the lowly, narrow gate.
And as Christ died for us, then rose to life,
He lives through us when to ourselves we die.
The Lamb assumed the sin of all the world,
absorbed God’s holy wrath—the debt sin owes.
Redemption’s check written with hammer blows,
into remitting sea sin’s wage He hurled.
For lost, sick souls eternal life Christ bought—
the graced life freely offered through new birth
to those who’ll humbly hunger for His worth
and trust the vanquishment for which He fought.
By taking up what WE deserve—wrath’s cross—
Jesus won our victory, laying down
His life, His glory and His heav’nly Crown
till, as He rose, He overcame all loss!
His sacrifice and risen life receive
when in Christ’s saving power you believe!
“Why seek the Living One among the dead?”
asked angels to a few who’d watched the Lord
be crucified—His blood and life outpoured,
“He is not here! He’s risen as He said!”
In days before these women wept in grief
as Jesus’ lifeless body, wrapped in shroud,
lay buried, guarded, sealed from Paschal crowd,
but by God’s plan entombment would be brief!
His slaying served full payment for the debt
incurred against Himself by mankind’s sin.
His raising proved His sacrifice the win
to satisfy God’s wrath, my debts forget!
Because Christ Jesus died but ever lives,
the sin of all who trust Him God forgives!
“How foolish you are, and how slow of heart
to believe what the prophets have spoken!
Didn’t Christ have to suffer [be broken],
then enter His glory [new life to impart]?”
Can you hear these words Christ spoke ‘Firstfruits’ Day
as He journeyed (resurrected!) with two
who had not yet grasped God’s Covenant view
that Jesus’ shed blood is Hope’s ONLY way?
From Genesis on, God painted pictures
pointing us straight to the cross of His Son
in shadows and types through Providence done—
Jesus fulfills the weight of these Scriptures!
So come, invite Him in! As those two learned,
He’ll teach you, open eyes, cause heart to burn!
The Conqueror of sin and death returned,
ascended to His Throne, His Father’s side,
where now He intercedes for His bought bride,
as having, through His blood, grace for her earned.
But one day soon He’ll stand again on Earth.
He’ll reign supremely as its Judge and King.
Set timer on sin’s insolence will ring,
and everyone shall see Christ’s matchless worth!
The blazing eyes of LORD/Judge/King will harden
as man’s rebellion’s snuffed with holy fire—
the proud, indiff’rent, carnal, thief and liar,
whoever has not fled to Christ for pardon.
So “kiss the Son” or face Him with your sin.
“Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
©️ Alyssa Holmes Underwood
