Reflection: The Script

Scripted before time, is the richest romance creation we could imagine. Written, produced, directed by and starring the Trinity. It’s a collaboration of Father, Son and Spirit to redeem and restore all creation. The drama of Salvation.

We know scripts to be well-kept secrets, as was this one. But rumours of it were afoot in Israel. Having been leaked to Jewish prophets, something of its mystery was in the wind, in Israel’s restless bones.

The prophet Isaiah’s take on the cryptic script foretells anomalies of a God who chooses unmerited judgement to justify. A righteous servant shouldering the sin of many, to make many righteous. Of it being the will of the Lord to crush him. From anguish, coming light, life and completion/satisfaction.

Jesus knew and lived the script.

Up to his dying breath he quoted it.

He counted on it.

The most wretched, shameful, desolate scene in history was script-fulfilled.

Straight from king David’s prophetic lips, Jesus gasps, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? … Into your hand I commit my spirit; *

 The script, like it’s author, is all about love. And how best to demonstrate love in a broken world, than self-sacrifice:

 God so loved … that he self-gave ...

“The Father giving up the Son is not the dissolution of love but the deepest demonstration of it.”**

The Son so loved that he obeyed, humbling himself to death on a cross.

And the Spirit so loves that he nurtures, comforts and empowers the Son in life and death.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, your love brought me into friendship with you through your sacrifice. Your love nourishes and guides me, granting me peace. As you have sought me, help me to seek you day and night, and to have joy in your presence, as you take joy in mine.

 Love me brought,
And love me wrought,
Man, to be thy fere. [friend]
Love me fed,
And love me led,
And love me fastens here.

Love me slew,
And love me drew,
And love me laid on bier.
Love’s my peace;
For love I chose
To buy back man so dear.

Now fear thee not;
I have thee sought
All the day and night.
To have thee
Is joy to me;
I won thee in the fight.

‘Loue me brouthte’ / ‘Love me brought’, a medieval passion lyric***

* Psalm 22:1; 31:5

** Matt Jenson, “The Father’s Love: The Eternal Desire of God’s Heart.”

*** from the Commonplace Book of John of Grimestone, 1372. Transcribed by Carleton Brown in Religious Lyrics of the Fourteenth Century (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924), page 84. See ‘Art and Theology’ article by Victoria Emily Jones.