P

he large pizza is always going to be the better bargain. So say people with better math skills than I and also share my passion for a good pie. That passion, though, can put the lie to the above statement. Always prepared to accept the premise that there cannot be too much of a good thing, I am inclined to support the size upgrade. But the size of my pants is also in the process of being upgraded. Its easy for me to say I will save half the pizza for lunch the next day, but it is not quite so easy to do. And in terms of fat calories, more is definitely not better. Sometimes more is just more. The law of diminishing returns kicks in. (Thats what makes the fifth slice taste not quite so yummy as the first.) Getting a better price per cubic inch is not the goal, after all; its getting the food you need by spending as little as can be arranged. Supersizing doesnt always do that, no matter what the mathematicians say. Some take similar pride in their gargantuan servings of the bread of life or for preachers, the servings they give to others. But if we feel glutted at the end instead of sated, is it really accomplishing the desired purpose? A study of Gods precepts should revive us, says Psalm 119:40. Ten minutes spent contemplating that single verse can be more uplifting than an hour plowing through the entire psalter. The self-serving nature of this point does not escape me, the author of articles strictly limited to 300 words. And I am not opposed to larger meals, either in writing, in the pulpit, or in private study. But it is quality of study, not quantity, that draws us to God. (Not that you cant have both!) HH

oetic language conveys information differently than literal language. Its not better or worse; its just different. It requires more imagination on our part to determine the exact nature of that information, but the information tends to impact us more powerfully and permanently if we are able to access it. That shouldnt be a surprise; anything in life is more valued and remembered if we have to work for it. Nowhere in the Christians work and worship does the value of poetry come to bear more obviously than in our song service. Many of our songs intentionally emphasize mood not for the purpose of de-emphasizing the message, but rather to put the message into a different, perhaps more impactful framework. As we consider the Lords death to-

day at His table, let us give special consideration to an old favorite that is frequently sung to, as we often say, prepare our minds for the partaking of the supper Tis Midnight, and on Olive Brow, written in 1822 by William B. Tappan.

Tis midnight, and on Olives brow The star is dimmed that lately shone; Tis midnight in the garden, now The suffering Savior prays alone.
Olives brow refers to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus prayed prior to His betrayal and arrest. The brow of the hill, like the hour of midnight, are poetic license; we do not know the exact hour of His prayer or the precise location of Gethsemane in which He prayed, although the general site is considered well established. The star would seem to refer to Christ Himself; the frenzied adulation five days before at His entry into Jerusalem has faded to the point where his three best friends cannot eve manage to stay awake for Him.
Continued on page 2)

A publication of

East Hill church of Christ 2078 East Nine Mile Road Pensacola, Florida 32514 (850) 479-2130 Easthillchurchofchrist.org Hal Hammons, preacher and editor Hardy Eubanks, Andy Goodson and Larry Smith, elders

Vol. 3, No.13 March 30, 2014

Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

A story of ____________________
This is a ________________ granted only to those in the __________________ (__________________) Sharing __________ is one of the strongest forms of ___________________ (____________________) _____________________________ has its _________ ( ___________________________________) Taking advantage of such a __________________________ is the ultimate ___________________ (__________________)
Tis midnight, and from all removed, The Savior wrestles lone with fears; Een that disciple whom He loved Heeds not his Masters grief and tears.
The fear in the garden did not show any hesitation on the Lords part; He was fully committed (John 12:27). But the rigors of bearing the weight of sin for the world took a frightful toll on His physical form. Grieved to the point of death (Mark 14:34), He even bled through His sweat glands (Luke 22:44), showing extreme physiological distress. Ether-plains (or heavenly plains, as is phrased in some books) refers to the source of the comfort given to the Savior in His darkest hour. Poetic license describes the relief given Jesus in the garden as a song. The literal strength, perhaps in the form of food, given Him by the angel could not possibly have buoyed the spirits of the Lord as much as the knowledge that His woes were noted and appreciated by His Father. It should be noted that poetic license is a common tactic not just with human poetry but with inspired poetry as well. Consider non-literal images such as I am a worm, bulls of Bashan, the power of the dog, the lions mouth, and many other metaphors from Psalm 22, just to single out one passage. The reader should always remember that the lesson he or she takes from the poetic language must be in keeping with the overall message of the immediate and overall text; we do not derive our doctrine from speculating about figures of speech. The overall message is a beautiful and needful one: even before the cross, our Savior was suffering for our sins to a degree we humans cannot possibly fathom. HH

A story of ______________
Passover commemorated Israels ______________________ from _________________ (___________________________) God acknowledges His _________________ when they choose to walk by ___________ (_________________________) He chooses not to _________________ them (______________________) We should never forget Christ _________ for the _________________ (______________________)

A story of _________________
Jesus is our _____________________ (________________________________) He Himself is ___________ (________________________________) His _________ must be ___________ (____________________________) The Passover was to be eaten in the __________________ _______ (________________________) No ______________ to remind us of where we ________ ________ (____________________)

Tis midnight, and for others guilt The Man of Sorrows weeps in blood; Yet He that hath in anguish knelt Is not forsaken by His God.
The Father was always available to the Son through prayer. He prayed for relief from the cup of anguish He was enduring, and the Father responded (Luke 22:41-43). The blood in the garden portended the greater flow of the cross that would atone for the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).

A story of a ________________________
Jesus offers us a new ______________________ (___________________________) He agrees to ______ for us (________________________) We agree to __________ for Him (_________________________) We cannot _________ from Him at His table and ________ nothing in return Let us at least __________ Him our full _______________

Tis midnight, and from ether-plains Is borne the song that angels know; Unheard by mortals are the strains That sweetly soothe the Saviors woe.