Nearness
Colossians 1:15-22
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him.
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross ELW 335
1 Jesus, keep me near the cross, there's a precious fountain;
free to all, a healing stream flows from Calv'ry's mountain.
Refrain: In the cross, in the cross be my glory ever;
till my ransomed soul shall find rest beyond the river.
2 Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me;
there the bright and morning star sheds its beams around me. Refrain
3 Near the cross! O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me;
help me walk from day to day with its shadow o'er me. Refrain
4 Near the cross I'll watch and wait, hoping, trusting ever,
till I reach the golden strand just beyond the river. Refrain
Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915
The hymn tune was written first, Fanny Crosby added the lyrics later. Often when this happens, the words may seem forced. But Fanny Crosby was famous for hearing a tune and then having the words appear, as if by magic, in her head as she heard the music being played.
As she related the story, when Fanny Crosby heard this tune by William Doane, she heard “nearness”. During her time, theologians and scholars tended to focus on the moral center of Jesus teachings, how he was a great mentor, leader and teacher. But Fanny knew the central truth of Christianity was not the content of its teaching but the reality of the cross. Without the cross, no morality, no teaching, no leadership style was worth giving your life to. So, as other hymn writers focused on Jesus’ teachings, Fanny focused on the central truth of his life, the cross.
Prayer: Jesus, in the midst of out uncertainty, in the midst of our fear, in the midst of our need to know the truth, bring us near the cross.