Jesus' blood, righteousness and his very name are the three important elements on which the songwriter's hope is firmly grounded. These elements also constitute the basis of every Christian's faith - the reason for believing in our Lord Jesus - otherwise our lives would be meaningless, without any significance.
Jesus is righteousness personified. He is the Righteous One.
His mission was to seek and to save that which was lost (Matthew
When Adam and Eve who were living in the Garden of Eden sinned, the special relationship they had knit with God, the Father became broken and they were separated from Him. The Righteous One, the Messiah, Jesus as angel Gabriel disclosed, was sent by the Father to restore that broken relationship. His right standing with God qualified Him to undertake that rescue mission.
"You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased,"(Luke3: 22)
This is my Son whom I have chosen, listen to Him." (Luke 9:35)
These are public utterances made by the Father to acknowledge the Son. He made them so that those who heard it might have no doubt in their minds who are our Lord Jesus was when He trod this earth.
The prophet Isaiah had prophesied of Him: "He will show himself holy by his righteousness." (Isaiah 5:16) "He put on righteousness as his breastplate." (Isaiah 59:17) God, the Father in His holiness cannot behold sin, for He is too pure and He is holy. Adam and Eve hid from His sight after they had sinned. Our Lord Jesus in His agony on the cross-cried - just when He bore the world's sin on.
His head, and when the Father could not look at Him: "My God my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Sent into the world to destroy the works of Satan, Jesus left his heavenly glory and came to live on earth on a goodwill mission: to reconcile God, the Maker, with His creation. He came to settle the debt of unrighteousness incurred by Adam and Eve, our ancestors, when they sold their right to Satan, who was disguised as a serpent to deceive them. It was a debt they could not pay.
Jesus went about doing good, setting things right and
calling people unto righteousness. John the Baptist had paved the way with his
message of repentance. "Repent for the kingdom of heaven (God) is near."
(Matthew 3:2) One of our Lord Jesus' debut exhortations as He kicked off His
ministry had been on a note of repentance - a change for the better. "The time
has come; the
(Mark
God says "be holy for I am holy!" Righteousness is an essential ingredient for entry into God's kingdom. It is important that we live righteously. Such quality is God-like, and it has been made available to us humans through the sacrifice of the Son. "He who pursues righteousness and love." (Proverbs 21:21)
Righteous acts are like a sweet smelling sacrifice, they mount up to heaven and God is pleased to acknowledge that we are walking in line with His precepts and according to the set rules of behaviour.
Better still they are steps that would strength our relationship with Jesus in our Christian walk.
Whatever we do we ought to bear in mind that it is for God's glory. Paul in his writings sums it neatly with "So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1stCorinthians 10:31) He further exhorts us to live lives worthy or God's calling. "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely' whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
The songwriter admonishes not to trust the sweetest spring but to wholly lean on Jesus' name. That name that is above all other names; for at His name every knee shall bow and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Again the prophet Isaiah had prophesied; "By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength." (Isaiah 45:23-24)
