In this book, author and speaker Brennan Manning provides theological and spiritual insights into the lyrics of Michael W. Smith’s praise song, Above All. Manning quickly takes the reader into a deep interpretation. It’s an easy and inspirational read. 

In chapter 2 “Seeing Past Our Distortions of Jesus,” the song lyric reads: “Above all wisdom and all the ways of man…”

In response Manning writes, “Jesus Christ, in whom the fullness of divinity dwells, is not to be boxed, tamed, defined, interred or disinterred, made plausible or comprehensible, explained or explained away, reduced to a polemic, located within or beyond creation, liberated or captivated, house broken or temple broken.”  

In short, sinful man thinks too small of God. Sinful man tries to reduce God’s Word and Jesus into a simple sentence to fit our worldview. 

Chapter 4, “Love Affair with The Crucified Savior,” focuses on the lyric: “Crucified, laid behind the stone, you thought of me above all.”

Manning again beckons us to assess our comprehension of the depth of Christ’s love as he vulnerably shares his own cathartic experience: 

“In my first-ever experience of being loved for nothing I had done or could do, I moved back and forth between mild ecstasy, silent wonder, and hushed trembling. The aura might be best described as ‘bright darkness.’ The moment lingered on in a timeless now, until without warning I felt a hand grip my heart. It was abrupt and startling.

The awareness of being loved was no longer tender and comforting. The love of Christ, the crucified Son of God, took on the wild fury of a sudden spring storm. Like a dam bursting, a spasm of convulsive crying erupted from the depths of my soul. Jesus died on the cross for me…in one blinding moment of salvific truth, it became real knowledge calling for personal engagement of my heart. Christianity was no longer merely a moral code, an ethic, or a philosophy of life but a love affair.” 

To read Brennan Manning, one must first find the proper setting: a quiet place in nature, a cup of coffee, perhaps something to nosh in hand. This sets the stage for his words to penetrate the heart and mind.

I was recently blessed with such a solitary time of beauty as I witnessed glorious tropical sunsets beyond the pages of this book. I encourage you to carve out some time, some sacred space and indulge in the reading of Above All, and be reminded of how deeply you are loved.

“Above All” by Brennan Manning can be purchased on amazon.com.