“Hello, How Do You Do?”- The Excellency of Jesus Christ

I can recall from my high school years this song that the choir used to sing. The song left a lasting mark on me. I am not sure why because I was no fan of the choir, nor was I even a fan of taking voice lessons, especially when trying to read sheet music.  Having said that, the lyrics of the song stood with me throughout the years. Every time I heard the song play; I could see the images of the words. I developed mental pictures of what the song was about. I could envision the deep blue sea. I saw the waves of the ocean rising in a crescendo and at its crest, falling gently back into its vast depths. My understanding of the song allowed me to perceive beautiful pristine colors that represented the spectrum of the rainbow. It was a kaleidoscope of colors that depicted life. I could imagine hearing the heavenly voices sing.  It was as if I was transported to another realm that was so peaceful, honorable, and delightful. It was a moment that I held to myself, and I told no one about it.  I didn’t have the language back then to articulate to anyone those moments as a very young adolescent. How Excellent Is Thy Name by Larnelle Harris was the song that captivated me. A portion of the lyrics read:

I look into the midnight blue

And see the work You've done

Your children raise a perfect praise

While enemies hold their tongue

Creation shows Your splendor

Your reigning majesty

And yet I find You take the time

To care for one like me

According to vocabulary.com, the word excellence means greatness – the very best. Jesus Christ gave the very best when He healed the woman with the issue of blood according to Luke 8: 43-48.  He healed the Canaanite woman’s son who was demon-possessed when she kneeled before him begging the Lord to help her son, Matthew 15: 21-28. He fed a hungry crowd with a miraculous provision out of 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, Matthew 14:13-21. Jesus Christ gives the very best to mankind. The Excellency of Jesus Christ is a theme that has been unpacked by some of our best Christian orators such as A.W. Tozer, Jonathan Edwards, and Charles Spurgeon. Psalm 43, John 16, and Revelation 5 reveal Jesus as glorious and meek, Jesus as an excellent man and the excellence of His Holy Spirit, and Jesus as the Lion and the Lamb. Christ is represented as two-dimensional in nature yet remains as one with His Father.  Jesus Christ is represented as excellent to man and nature. As humans, we can’t attain His divine glory; for He is excellent in knowledge, power, wisdom, and majesty. Yet Christ comes down to our lowliness to serve us human beings.  He takes notice of princes, kings, the poor, beggars,  the children, and the unworthy. According to Edwards, He takes gracious notice of us to be our friend,  to be wedded to us, and to expose Himself to the spitting and shame He endured on the cross.

Jesus Christ depicts infinite highness and infinite lowness. He washes our feet, and He grants justice and grace to the world. Essentially, there is a union between the high and low and it is brought together to solidify the will of the Father for our salvation, see John 17.  Jesus Christ intercedes for the fallen nature of man. Anything that is fallen is spoken of in terms of decadence, lowly, nasty, brutish, and perverted.  Yet God who is so high and glorious wants to elevate us to dignity. Mighty God what a humbling moment; mankind at its worst is given a chance to be helped, elevated, honored, and redeemed in the excellency of Jesus Christ. We are never far from Jesus. His eyes are always on us despite what we may think. Jesus’ eye is on the Prime Ministers, Sheiks, Presidents, CEO's,  the homeless, those in prisons, and even in the places where persons plot evil. Jesus sees all things, He hears all things and He knows all things. Jesus Christ is inescapable, we can’t outrun Him, outsmart Him, or even deny Him. We will all be called one day to give an account of the lives we have lived. Male or female, old or young, and rich or poor.

How are you doing today? I hope you will truly assess your emotions and take note of your answer. You even have permission to write them down.  Jesus Christ takes notice of you.  He wants to talk with you. He is knocking at the chambers of your heart; however, He won’t enter unless you invite Him in.

I had a moment back in high school. The Lord was checking in on me through the lyrics of that song.  He was taking note of me: one child on planet Earth, from a so-called Third World nation, situated in first form at a High School, tucked secretly away from the hustle and bustle of the daily thoroughfares of life. Isn’t Jesus Christ amazing? If He visited me back then through the lyrics of a song to check up on me, He can surely visit you through whatever channel is best understood by you.   Jesus Christ is ready to defend you like a lion and He is ready to serve you in all meekness and lowliness.  Whether saint or sinner,  Jesus is concerned about us, and His Holy Spirit is more than ready to help us. There is a call for us to arise and worship Jesus, the one who is excellent, supreme, magnificent, holy, and honorable. He is gloried by the Father and all of creation knows this.  Please arise to respond the next time He passes your way, to gently or firmly say “Hello, how do you do?” Jesus Christ is ready to help you. Shalom.