foreWORD Revelation 1 Turning Away

Life Truths family,

I'll warn you I lost control of the keyboard about halfway through...

I have two WORDS this week, the first being a homework assignment in preparation for this coming Sunday.  Normally we do a passage from the book the pastor is preaching from, but this week I’d like to pose a question to discuss.  It fits with the lesson but it requires a lot of thought ahead of time. Can’t spring it on you last minute. Please be prepared to discuss, with references.

1    1.  foreWORD and this week's topic.         

      The song Amy Burchik wonderfully sang yesterday (no idea how she go through that!  I asked her and she said she has to think things like baseball, dirt…  I really believe Stuart Townsend could submit that to a hymnal, it really is that kind of timeless music and lyric.  Lots of great songs on the radio, moving lyrics and music.  But old or new, there is a clear distinction not just in music style but in the thickness of the thought of hymns.

Selah verson (with lyrics):

Spoiler alert!  The topic for this coming week's small groups discussion breakout is the second line of the second stanza:

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Doubtless most if not all of you have been taught “God turned His face away from Jesus on the cross.”  Is that true?  I offer a reward for anyone who can put the chapter and verse to where the Bible says that.  But let's have this discussion.

Arguments for:

Arguments otherwise:

I want to be clear this isn't about splitting hairs or even having a right or wrong answer, though the process is certainly about gaining better command of scripture.  There is no difference in any of the other lines of the song if you change this line or if you find truth in any viewpoint on the subject of the Father's turning or not turning away.  That's important.  More clearly true is that whether He turned in pain or watched His Son in His most crucial ministry, it does not diminish the Son's glory or the Father's love!  And I believe both perspectives will enrich our lesson in Revelation.

Others say the crucifixion is the physical manifestation of the OT prophecy, the sun (the light who worships the Father, see Psalms 19) was darkened, and the moon (reflection of the Light in the Son, see Col 1) was turned to blood.

Come prepared to discuss.