A few hours ago I returned home from the “Behold the Lamb of God” (a.k.a. BTLOG) tour. If you know what that is, then you probably know where I’m headed with this blog post. If you don’t know what that is, then check it out here. Also, a few minutes ago on Twitter I said that I could not put into words what this experience was like. Well, this is me now, attempting to capture in typed text what I came away with from tonight.
Once again, talking to those who have experienced BTLOG, it’s quite difficult to do this, right? It’s been said a million times I’m sure, but the artists who have crafted this beautiful piece of work are incredibly talented. I found myself getting giddy at the thought of being in the same room with Andrew Peterson, Andy Gullahorn, Jill Phillips, etc., mostly because I’ve fallen in love with their music and assumed I would never have a chance to see them in person. Tonight that almost-forsaken hope was fulfilled, and while each and every note, strum, beat and octave was wonderful, that honestly wasn’t what made the night. Of course it played a huge factor in the enjoyment of it all, but if left at that, it would be lacking.
What made the night was the story itself that was told through song, and most specifically, the Hero of that Story. At one point in the evening, during the song “Passover Us”, the lyrics reminded me of the days when God’s people had to slaughter a spotless lamb in order that His judgment would pass over them. For the first time, I was awakened to the reality of that scene and that time in history. This people group of Israelites - they were real, and they worshiped the same God I worship today. The slaughter was real. The judgment was real. The days and nights of hoping for a Messiah were real. The attempt to find salvation through earthly kings was real. The need for a Deliverer was real - just as real as this very moment now.
And then, at the perfect time in history, when all the world would hear the news, a “brave little boy” was born. Born with a purpose. Born by a miracle. The entire Old Testament points to Him, and the entire New Testament speaks of Him. This Deliverer that was desperately longed for by God’s people, this Messiah, this King that was promised by that very same God - He came in the form of man to a tiny stable in Bethlehem. He was real, and He was here. Finally.
My words fail to express the climax of this moment, but Andrew Peterson and friends play it so perfectly. Tonight as the song grew louder, as the drummers hit harder, as the singers raised their voices, rejoicing broke out just like it did on the night of Christ’s birth. The hope of man has come to earth! He is here, Christ the Lord! He is Immanuel, God with Us, Prince of Peace, Light and Life, Savior. “Hallelujah, sing Hallelujah!”
So there I sat, a young girl in Austin, TX, only one of 6 billion+ people in the world, with a very tiny story of my own playing out on this earth, and I’m soaking in every piece of this far Greater Story, one that reaches to the beginning of time. The chorus rang out - “So sing out with joy for the brave little boy who was God, but He made himself nothing. He gave up his pride and He came here to die like a man….so sing out with joy for this brave little boy is our Savior - Son of God, Son of Man!” Joy swelled within me. I am a part of THIS Story?! Yes, this true, amazing, awe-inspiring, wondrous story! It is not something outside of me. It is not something beyond my reach. It is not a fable or fairytale. This story of a baby coming into the world changed everything for me. I, like the Israelites, needed a Deliverer. I was born with a rebellious heart, one that wanted everything but God, one who thought my righteousness was sufficient enough to cover my shame. Yet, left to myself, I have no righteousness - only filth. I’m left in darkness, in a world of selfishness, a world where no hope and no light shines, a world of death. But here he is, our Faithful God the Father, who with pleasure sends His Son from his heavenly riches and heavenly throne to rescue His bride - to rescue me from my sin. To RESCUE me and bring me life, joy, hope, peace, all eternal. To bring me Himself, the greatest love of all. Like I said, this changes everything.
As I lay my head down in a few minutes, I lay it down more peacefully than the nights before. Why? Because tonight I have been reminded once again that this Story is true. Tomorrow morning it will still be true. It will always be true, and one day I will get to see this Messiah, this Deliverer, this Prince of Peace face to face. Until that day, may I always behold Him, this Lamb of God.
