Friday, March 29, 2013

The Sinless One Has Paid for Me



The sinless one, born in a manger
The Messiah to some, to others a stranger,
He had humble beginnings with his family
As he was raised by Joseph and Mary.
Then the time came when he was called to the sea
To a man named John who baptized many.
What John must have felt to baptize God
Even in man's image, it must have felt odd.
But Jesus insisted, and John appeased
And with them, God the Creator was well pleased.
John went on to die as he proclaimed the truth
And Jesus was ready to leave behind His youth.
He gathered His peoples to and fro
Instructing and healing, wherever He would go.
He taught about Love, and His Holy Way.
He taught how to worship, pray, and obey.
He healed the sick and brought comfort to those who cried.
All the children flocked just to be by His side.
While others would cast stones, He'd clothe sinners in white
And teach how He is the way, the truth and the life.
The Son of God was sent, how could any have doubted?
Yet many were apprehensive and even angry about it.
They were stuck on tradition, blinded by what they had known.
They couldn't recognize the divinity in what Jesus had shown.
They celebrated Passover, from many years before
When God had passed over the Israelites' doors.
The tradition they kept, but they couldn't understand
That the final sacrificial lamb was to be this Man. 
What He must have felt to sit with His friends
And see images before Him of such bitter ends.
One last meal, they gathered, as He tore the bread
“Eat this in memory of me,” He said.
Did they know when He held up the wine and bread,
How his body would be broken and how much blood he would shed?
Only Jesus knew, and yet He sat there still
Willingly accepting God the Father’s Will.
In the garden He cried as His human heart was torn
Between the Spirit of God within Him and the flesh into which He was born.
Images of death flashed before His eyes,
“God take this cup from me!” were His desperate cries.
But as He prayed, the Lord’s Will He knew.
And in that moment, He chose this cup for me and for you.
Betrayal with a kiss led to His arrest
Could His friends see His heart break beneath His chest?
And yet even as He stood there in chains,
He healed his arrestor from being in pain.
He taught His friend Peter not to live by the sword,
Just before He was to face the worst beating ever endured.
Before Pilot He stood, guiltless as can be.
Pilot wasn’t quite sure if he should set this Man free.
But the crowds, they roared, and Pilot was consumed by fright.
Instead of asking the Lord, he asked the people… what shall I do tonight?
“CRUCIFY HIM!” they shouted, they rang.
How could a life of love lead to so much pain?
Still Jesus stood there accepting this fate
Instead of fighting or pleading, all He could do was wait.
Pilot gave them a choice between who would die
A thief and a killer, or Jesus, for not even a single lie.
Thrown into the crowd, the Savior was chosen
And yet He chose us, and for us He was broken.
Lashings and beatings, He was pushed and tossed
As He carried for all, His heavy cross.
Metal on metal, the clanging did sound
As the nails drove through Jesus, pound after pound.
And then that moment in history,
Jesus hung there on a cross for all to see.
His Love for all showed until the very end,
As weeping was heard from his family and friends.
“Forgive them Father, they know not what they do.”
As He died on the cross, He thought of me and you.
Insults from the people continued to His death
He cried and he prayed until His final breath.
And with one final cry, our Jesus did die
“It is finished” followed by one final sigh.
Darkness came and the darkness grew
The curtain of the temple was torn in two.
The earth itself trembled and those who were present knew
This was the Son of God… what He spoke was true!
Myrrh and aloe then covered the flesh of the King from Mary’s womb
And He was buried there before the Sabbath, in a garden tomb.
Days later the women set out with spices alone
And saw that someone had moved the tomb’s stone!
Voices spoke to them out of lightning
And the women found this to be frightening
Until the women heard the words that they said
Jesus has risen! He is no longer dead!
They left to proclaim the amazing news
But there was still much doubt among the Jews
And they discussed together all that had passed
Until Jesus appeared to them at last.
What Joy filled the hearts of Jesus’ friends
And Mary, and Joseph, and people now until the end.
He has taken our sin and removed our shame.
In the Book of Life He has written our name.
And just before He ascended to the Heavenly throne
He instructed us in what to do before we go Home.
We are to share the Good News with all that we meet.
God is to be our hope and a light to our feet.
We are to love one another and learn God’s Ways
So that all together one day we will Praise
The Mighty Lamb on His throne of Grace
There in Heaven we shall finally see His Face…
Oh praise you Lord, thanks be to the King
We have reason to shout, and reason to sing!
In your death and suffering you provided a way
For all of our own tears to be swept away
For You’ve left us to go and prepare a place
Where we will dwell with You forever! Forever in your embrace….

I LOVE YOU, JESUS! <3 <3<3  Thank you for enduring all of that pain and suffering and humiliation for my expense. I was not a worthy exchange for your death, but you chose me anyway. And I offer my whole self, my whole life to you as a mere offering in thanksgiving. I live and breathe for you alone, and I long for that day when you will call me Home. <3


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