Meditation on the Life of Christ


The angel Gabriel brought the news,
	the Child would be born of the Holy Ghost,
the King of the Jews,
	of the house of David,
to reign forever.

In Bethehem the Child was born,
	the inn was full, and closed its doors.
The star above, the wise men came,
	gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The shepherds watched their fields by night
	and trembled at the angel's light.
He spoke good news
	and all the host praised God.

Circumcised at eight days old;
	brought to the temple as an offering to the Lord.

Danger was near,
	so to Egypt they fled.
Herod was cruel,
	and Rachel's children were no more.

In Nazareth they made their home,
	and took Him year by year to learn
how God in Egypt spared His own.

A mind that framed the galaxies,
	He grew, and knew God's mysteries,
He knew the favor of the Lord.

In the temple He questioned the sages,
	and they knew that this
	was a Child of the Ages.

As a patient carpenter He awaited the time
	when the Father would call Him
	to arise and shine.

The time had come.

Rising from the Jordan,
	the opening heavens,
the dove of the Spirit,
	the Father's approval.

Thou art my beloved Son,
	in whom I am well pleased.
Behold the Lamb of God,
	who takes away the sin of the world.
He who comes after me ranks before me,
	for He was before me.

And now to the desolate waste He goes,
	to be tempted by Satan,
	to fast and pray.

He fasted forty days,
	and afterwards He was hungry.

If you are the son of God, command these stones to be made bread.
	It is written, man shall not live by bread alone,
	but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

If you are the son of God, cast yourself down.
	It is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.

He took Him to a great and high mountain,
	and showed Him all the kingdoms of the word and their glory.
	All these will I give to you
	if you will fall down and worship me.

Begone Satan, for it is written,
	You shall worship the Lord your God,
	and Him only shall you serve.

And Satan left Him,
	and angels came and ministered to Him.

He conquered by the Word of God,
	and forced the evil one to flee.
The angels fed Him,
	and cheered His victory.

Behold Him!
Filled with the Spirit,
	ready to heal,
preaching the Gospel,
	making us whole.

The blind see,
	the deaf hear,
the lame walk,
	the dumb speak.
They sing for joy.

Through the night, in prayer to God;
	through the day, Come, follow me.
Wine at the marriage in Galilee.

What is this I see?

You cursed lot, from the temple flee!
	I cannot abide your hypocrisy!
He came to heal, and set us free.

By night the Pharisee sought Him out,
	and learned that he needed a change of heart.
You must be born again.

She saw Him at the well that day.
	The water of life is free.
Are you the Messiah?
	I am he.

At the pool at Bethesda.
	I have no one to put me into the water when it is troubled.
Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.

He spoke of the lilies,
	and the poor in spirit.
He spoke of the truth
	that will make you free.
	Come unto me, and I will give you rest.
The light of the world,
	the house on the rock,
the narrow gate,
	the speck and the log.

A sower went out to sow.
	The grain of mustard seed.

Wheat and tares,
	treasures and fields,
	valuable pearls.

Banquets and nets,
	widow and judge,
	prodigal son.

The coin and the sheep,
	the rich man will weep.
Vineyards and virgins and talents.

Five thousand were fed,
	across the water he came.

The crashing waves,
	Peace, be still,
	and the storm winds fled.
Who is this, they said?

At the shore the madmen were freed from sin.
	The light of Jesus entered in.
Upset at the loss of the swine
	the others begged him to leave.

O master, do they love You?
	Stony gazes met His love.

He heals on the Sabbath!
	Whose wife will she be?
Shall we support Caesar?
	Will you build the temple in three days?

Have you seen Abraham?
	Before Abraham was, I am.

They had their prey, she shrank from view.
	We caught her in adultery!
What would the Master do?
	Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
His insight pierced them through.
	Neither do I condemn you; sin no more.

Love the Lord with all your heart,
	love your neighbor as yourself.
On this depends the law and the prophets.

Upon the mountain one night He prayed
	until the splendor burst its rays
upon their sight, and to their gaze
	revealed the men of ancient days.
They spoke of joy, but first disgrace.
	So to Jerusalem He set His face.

The death of Lazarus.

If you had been here, he would not have died.
	I am the resurrection and the life.
Jesus wept.
	Lazarus, come forth!
	Unbind him and release him.

At dinner with Simon in Bethany,
	Mary poured forth her love.
She has done a beautiful thing.
	But they could not see.

And now he approaches the city.

Hail, your king comes to you,
	humble, and on a colt is he.
Hosanna to the son of David!
	Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Why do you not rejoice, O Savior?

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, I see
	your terrible, terrible destiny!
Scattered and homeless in alien lands,
	persecuted, hated and destroyed.
I would have made you the queen of the earth
	but it is not to be.
He wept bitterly.

Cursed is the fig tree that yields no fruit.
	Woe to the nation, that forsakes the Lord.
Woe to you, when your day is over.

Behold the Master now, in sorrow,
Cleansing the temple,
	teaching of God,
soon to depart,
	returning no more.

The Greeks, they came, and more will come.
	Father, glorify Thy name!
I have glorified it,
	and I will glorify it again.

Tell us, O master, of things yet to be.
This beautiful temple will stand no more;
	the waves will crash on a distant shore.
Beyond the gloom of darkest night,
	the angels come, with a glorious light!
	Like stars they stream from heaven's gates.
The Master's brightness fills the sky
	and all the nations weep and mourn
to see the beauty of the dawn,
	to see God's people taken home.

But where has Judas gone?
	The gathering gloom.
For thirty silver coins.

And now they make ready the upper room,
	a time of peace before the storm.
He washed their feet,
	and loved them from the heart.

A note of sorrow.
One of you will betray me.
	Is it I, master? Is it I?
Judas went out,
	and it was night.

And now He consoles them.
Dear children, I love you;
	love one another.
I leave you my peace,
	and prepare you a place.
The Counselor will come,
	you will not be alone.

Dear children, evil is near.
	The Son of Man is to be reckoned with transgressors,
	to fulfil the scripture.
I break my body for you
	and pour out my blood.
Drink ye all of it.
	This is the new covenant.

Let us sing of joy
	for a little while;
we'll all be together,
	when the night is over.

They go out.
Master, why are you happy no more?
	Where is the joy that we saw before?
A deathly despair that we'll never know,
	for us he bore.

One who had loved, now needed love.
Pray with me for a little while;
	I need you now.

Dear Father, take this cup from me;
	roll back the burden,
	let me be free.
My soul I now submit to Thee.

The blood on His brow
	spoke of agony.

He looked for comforters, but found none.
	They were fast asleep.

An angel was there
	in His lonely trial
as He wrought out salvation
	for you and me.

And now He rises,
	submissive, and at peace.

With torches and clubs,
	his enemies press through the night.
	This is the place!
Whom do you seek?

The kiss of betrayal,
	the angel's light,
	the sword drawn in haste.

Twelve legions of angels
	were not called to save Him.
They led Him away.

His guilt was determined;
	why would not the witnesses agree?

Tell us if you are the Christ!

Henceforth you will see the Son of Man
	seated at the right hand of Power
	and coming in the clouds of Heaven.

They called it blasphemy.
	Death was the verdict.
How cold a heart can be.

Hating their victim, they slapped his face.
	Prophesy, you Christ, who struck you!
Only the One who was blindfolded
	could see.

By the fire they talked.
You were with Jesus!
	I don't know what you mean.
The crowing of the cock
	and the Savior's tender look
	revived his memory.
Oh God, have mercy on me!
	He broke down and wept.

There was no love for the Master that day.
A crown of thorns,
	a purple robe,
a reed in His hand.
	Hail, King of the Jews!

Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
	and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb,
so He opened not His mouth.

Before Herod, no miracle
Before Pilate.
	See how many charges they bring against you!
	What is truth?

A message from his wife.
Have nothing to do with that righteous man,
	for I have been much troubled
on account of him
	in a dream.

His face spoke peace,
	and love, and grace.
Let Him go free.

I find no fault in him.
	I will therefore chastise him,
	and release him.

The angry crowd in rage,
	Crucify him!

Who will you have, Jesus or Barabbas?

The Savior must die,
	the rebel go free.
Barabbas!

What shall I do with Jesus?
	Evil cannot bear to see purity.
Crucify him!

Shall I crucify your king?
	We have no king but Caesar;
	this man is a danger!

Washing his hands.
I am innocent of this man's blood.
	His blood be on us, and on our children!

The crowd prevailed.

They scourged the Savior,
	and led Him away.

A crushing burden,
	lifted by Simon,
	bearing the cross.

Judas knew that his Master was lost.
	He hanged himself.

With coins of death,
	too defiled for their temple,
they bought the field,
	where strangers would rest.

The women wept.
	Weep not for me.
For yourselves, for your children,
	for your nation weep.

At the place of a skull,
	nails in His flesh,
they lifted Him up,
	the cross was raised.

Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
	in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
	Thieves on either side.
Father, forgive them,
	for they know not what they do.

Casting lots for His robes
	and wagging their heads.
	Exulting in their victory.
He saved others; he cannot save himself.
	Come down from the cross;
	then we will believe in you!

But now a different voice I hear, too.
Lord, remember me on that day
	when You come in glory
	in the beauty of Your majesty.
Remember me
	when pain is gone
when sleep shall come
	and day is done.
Remember me.

Truly I say to you this day,
	you will be with me
	in Paradise.

Mother, I love you,
	I'm leaving you now.
Behold your son.
	Son, your mother.

The sixth hour.
	The sun shone no more.

My God, my God,
	why hast Thou forsaken me?
left me to die,
	cold and lonely?
My heart breaks for Thee!
	I thirst.

The end at last.
Into Thy hands
	I commend My spirit.
It is finished!

The reeling earth,
	the angry sky,
	the curtain torn in two.

Truly this man was innocent!
	Truly this was the Son of God!
	They went home beating their breasts.

From the wound in His side
	flowed water and blood,
	His gift to the world.

His lifeless form
	they bore to the tomb
	in the linen shroud.
No more suffering now.

The trial is over,
	the day is done,
sweet peace has come.
	The victory is won.
God gave His son.

They rolled the heavy stone to the door
	and left a guard of soldiers there.

Anxious tones,
	uneasy hours.
Brooding hearts,
	night wore on.

A sudden dawn!
In terror at the angel's light
	to soon to think, to weak for flight,
	they fell as dead men to the ground.

The heaving earth,
	the stone rolled back,
the call to life,
	the risen Christ!

For us He broke the bonds of death,
	the clutches of the grave He loosed,
and led its captive souls to light.

Weeping Mary, do not cry;
	weeping Mary, it is I!

Little children, do not fear.
	Hold me now, the Master's here.
Receive the Holy Spirit.

Doubting Thomas, tell me why.
	Come to Jesus,
	doubts will fly!

Day was breaking by the sea,
	All night fishing, catching nothing.
Cast your net on the other side!
	Fish are many where I guide.

Bread and fish,
	breakfast on the beach.

Simon, do you love Me?
	Yes Lord, You know all things;
	You know that I love You.
Feed My sheep.

On the road to Emmaus.
O foolish men, and slow of heart
	to believe all that the prophets have spoken.
Was it not necessary that the Christ
	should suffer these things
	and enter into His glory?
And beginning with Moses and all the prophets
	He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures
	the things concerning Himself.

Did not our hearts burn within us
	as He spoke with us by the way,
	while He opened to us the Scriptures?

To Bethany he led them.
Lord, will You at this time
	restore the kingdom
	to Israel?

It is not for you to know
	times and seasons
which the Father has fixed
	by His own authority.
But you shall receive power from on high
	when the Holy Spirit comes upon you
and you shall be My witnesses
	in Jerusalem and Judea
	and to the ends of the earth.

And lo, I am with you always,
	even unto the close of the age.

As He said this,
	He was lifted up out of their sight
	and a cloud received Him.
Their eyes followed him.

Men of Galilee,
	why do you stand
	looking up into Heaven?
In the same way
	that He went up into heaven
this same Jesus
	will come again!

What a short time it had been
	since they had met Him.
Precious memories!

Blessing from Heaven,
	gift from above,
soon to return,
	infinite love!