i did not come with lofty words

Posted by Bryan Moyer Suderman on Mar 24, 2016

For all who are daring and preparing to speak to their communities in the next few days about the mysteries of cross and resurrection… you’re not alone… maybe you can identify with these words…

When I came to you, my sisters
I did not come with lofty words
When I came to you, my brothers
Wisdom was not what you heard

I come to you in weakness
Fear and trembling in my bones
Words not likely to impress you
Maybe not quite what you’d hoped

I have decided that I know nothing
Nothing but Jesus, and Jesus crucified
What kind of wisdom is this? you may ask me
How is the power of God revealed in one who died?

There is power revealed in weakness
There is Spirit in this mess
This is far from human wisdom
It’s the power of God, I guess

This is not how rulers function
Cannot even comprehend
If they did, they never would have
Crucified the one God sent

But now we know, as it is written,
No eye has seen, no ear has heard
No human heart can even imagine
Just what our God has prepared

Now we have received the Spirit
So that we might understand
Gifts that have been given to us
Given us from God’s own hand

I come to you in weakness
Fear and trembling in my bones
Words not likely to impress you
Maybe not quite what you’d hoped

(adapted from 1 Corinthians 2. words and music by Bryan Moyer Suderman. recorded as “Lofty Words” on my Detectives of Divinity album)