A Poem for Today

 How We Know

1 John 3:16a

 What the world needs now

Is love, sweet love;

That’s what they say

But how do we know what true love is

In a world that has twisted it and

Tangled it and turned it upside down?

 This is how we know:

The Son of God became Man,

A tiny infant

Born not in the palace befitting a prince,

But in a stable

Whose birth was heralded by angels

But greeted only by cows and goats

And some scraggly shepherds.

 This is how we know:

The Son of Man walked the earth for thirty-three years

In absolute perfection.

His every thought was pure, his every action right, his every word true.

He calmed storms on the sea and storms in men’s hearts,

He put the Pharisees in their place

He healed blind eyes, lame legs, deaf ears, and withered hands.

 This is how we know:

The Good Shepherd sought his lost sheep.

He ate with tax collectors and sinners,  forgave adulterers,

And offered living water to a woman at a well

Who had known many men

But had never known love.

 This is how we know:

Wrapped in a servant’s towel, the King of Glory

Stooped and washed the grime

Of a long day’s journey from the feet

Of his quarrelsome disciples.

 This is how we know:

The spotless sinless Lamb of God chose to hang

On a rough wooden cross

Loving his mockers

Dying for them

Dying for all of us

Paying our sin debt in full,

So that when he rose on the third day,

He could offer salvation freely

To all who trust in him alone.

 Yes, truly, this is how we know what love is:

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.