War and Peace (1225 pages), Atlas Shrugged (1168 pages), Trinity (800 pages), Ulysses (735 pages). These tomes find their place among the world’s longest books written. One doesn’t undertake their reading lightly. They are not stories to tackle while pre-occupied. The authors have an abundance of detail to communicate, detail that cannot be developed sufficiently in a short time or in few words. Hence their heft. It should be added that one reading will prove insufficient to fully grasp the authors’ intent. It is a writer’s challenge to bring every situation, every character, every underlying theme, to full flower. An accompanying challenge is determining where to stop with this development and get on with the bigger story. Not all succeed.
The Bible (1991 pages, with notes, in my NIV), succeeds brilliantly! This volume tells the incredible story of the God of Creation’s relentless quest to be reunited, in love, with his children. This planned re-union is to take place where He reigns, in His Kingdom. God attempts to communicate the magnificent order of his ‘home turf’ through judges, through prophets, through kings, and even through exile. Then He sends His own Son, in human flesh, to be the Kingdom’s living manifestation, a manifestation so clear, so direct, as to be rejected by his own, arrested, beaten, falsely accused, crucified, buried (this we commemorated yesterday). This travesty completes the cycle developed throughout the Old Testament, bringing to near-fullness the Royal Plan. Divine justice always demands the blood of a spotless lamb to eradicate the sin-barrier between humanity and a Holy God. The Lamb, Jesus, then, still according to the Original Plan, ‘ . . . lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.’
And tomorrow! Tomorrow, we celebrate the Plan’s spectacular perfection – again! Our Resurrected Messiah! The King of Kings and Lord of Lords! ‘ . . . the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world.’ (Plan ‘A’!) ‘ . . . God exalted [Jesus] to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Right now, around the throne, living creatures are loudly singing: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Looking forward to seeing y’all, 10 AM, 3 PM UK, 4 PM FR. (We’re all on Daylight Savings Time as of tomorrow!) PD
PS For all non-locals, we’ll meet at 9 AM for a breakfast ‘together’ should you choose to Zoom with us for that.
PPS for all those non-EDT, we’ll meet an hour earlier than service time (2 PM UK, 3 PM FR) for a breakfast ‘together’ should you choose to Zoom with us for that.
