Grace in Christ 7

The 17^th Century hymnist, Johann Rist, gave the church a number of beautiful hymns depicting Christ.  One of those is “Arise, The Kingdom Is at Hand”.  This hymn is taken from Jesus’ first sermon as recorded in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel.”  With this simple message Jesus introduced Himself, His ministry, His purpose and His hope.  It was a gracious invitation declared to all who heard Him.

In the first stanza of his hymn Rist announces, “Arise, the kingdom is at hand the King is drawing nigh; arise with joy, thou faithful band, to meet the Lord most high! Look up, ye souls, weighed down with care, the Sovereign is not far; look up, faint hearts, from your despair, behold the Morning Star!”  The whole world lay in darkness.  Hope was hard to come by in the early 1^st century.  The Jewish religion had become form without substance.  Roman paganism offered nothing to cheer about.  Greek philosophy contradicted itself at every turn.  The poor grew poorer while the rich abused them in every way they could.  Religion, knowledge, economics and politics all offered no hope. 

Then Jesus came.  The Kingdom of God, the bright hope of mankind had arrived.  He offered it to all who would repent and believe.  There would be no more night, no pain, no fear, no despair and no more cares.  He didn’t exclude any from His invitation.  By grace He offered it to rich and poor, Jew and Greek, educated and illiterate, men and women and all, each and every one who would hear, repent and believe.  In a society with strict lines of separation along religious, economic, social, cultural, national and philosophical positions, Jesus' offer of grace to ALL was the ultimate offering of hope.

Rist’s 4^th stanza reads, “Hope, O ye broken hearts, at last! The King comes on in might, He loved us in the ages past when we sat wrapped in night; now are our sorrows o’er, and fear and wrath to joy give place, since God hath made us in His grace His children evermore.”  Notice the grace with which Christ came.  It is the same grace He offers to us today in every need of our life.  Rejoice, the King of grace is come. (This hymn may be sung to the tune “O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”.)

 

 

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