Rich, respectable, religious
A young, powerful ruler
Confident, desiring to live well
Approaches Jesus
“Master, I have a question –
What must I do to have eternal life?”
“Keep God’s commandments.”
“I have, all of them. What else?”
“Go, sell all you have
Come follow me.”
Downcast, the man left
For he had many possessions.
It’s so hard, if you’re rich
To enter God’s Kingdom.
Matthew 19:16-24
In Zion
City of God
At Mount Moriah
Seen by Yahweh
Wheat threshed
Bruised and crushed
Becomes flour
Flour to make bread
Earthly bread
Nourishing the body
Sustaining life
Till death.
In Zion
On Mount Moriah
Place of threshing
Abraham
Sacrifices his son
His only son
Isaac
The beloved one
A burnt offering
Fragrant aroma
Pleasing to God.
In Zion
City of God
At Golgotha
Place of death
Jesus Christ
Wheat threshed
Bruised and crushed
Becomes bread
Living bread
Nourishing the spirit
Sustaining life
To life eternal.
In Zion
On Mount Calvary
Place of threshing
Father God
Sacrifices His Son
His only Son
Jesus
The Beloved One
A burnt offering
Fragrant aroma
Pleasing to God.
When lightening flashed and thunder crashed
And waves were threateningly high
In our distress we shouted out
“Lord save us or we die.”
Our Master stood; rebuked the wind
Told the waters to be still
We watched in sheer amazement
As the waves obeyed His will.
He gently asked us, “Where’s your faith?”
Then we remembered what He had said
“With God all things are possible.”
And we’re reminded of the fish and bread.
For we’d seen the Master feed the crowd
With five fish and two loaves of bread
And we’d gathered up twelve baskets of crumbs
After everyone had been fed.
Slowly we’re beginning to learn
The power of Jesus our Lord
How everything submits to Him
Is obedient to His word.
He has also said that when he goes away
We can have these very same powers
If, by faith, and in His name we ask
By the Holy Spirit His power will be ours.
WOW!
Matthew 14:22-36
Mark 6:30-56
John 6:1-21
On Friday evening
Despair in her heart
She followed the crowd
Mary
His mother
Bowed down with grief
Stood by the cross
Saw her child
The promised Son
Wounded
Bleeding
Pleading
The Father’s forgiveness
For those who were hammering
Nails In His hands
His feet.
In the darkness
She heard His cry
Why God?
Why?
Why have you
Forsaken me?
What could she do?
She was suffering too
Seeing her loved one
In agony
Dying slowly
On the tree.
Through her tears
She heard His shout
It’s all over
It’s finished
He breathed His last.
She felt relief
That the worst was past
But then she heard
A very loud cry
It was the centurion
Standing by
Watching Jesus die
“Surely this man
Was the Son of God.”
Now Mary knew
She understood
That her precious Son
Had to shed His blood
And from that moment on
She was joyful
Set free
She knew that He had paid
For all
For all eternity
She had peace and hope
In her heart.
Mark 15:33-39
Tired
Hungry
Disappointed
They disembarked
Set about washing nets.
Jesus came by
Got involved
Were they annoyed?
When he asked the absurd
Push out the boat
Go back to deep water
To fish.
“Master
We worked hard all night
But if you think that it is right
We will obey
Do what you say.”
Their trust was rewarded
The Shoal was great
They hauled in the nets
About to break
Filled both the boats
With illogical fish
They had obeyed
Don what He said
Reaped the reward
But left it all
To follow the Lord.
Luke 5:1-11
Plenty of money yet not satisfied
The taxman found a tree in which he could hide
To watch and listen, perhaps he could find
What was missing from his life, true peace of mind.
On his way to the city in Jericho town
The Son of Man looked up, said “Come down
I must be a guest in your home today
For I want to explain to you my way.
The way salvation can come to you
And how it will change your attitude too
Zacchaeus immediately jumped down from his tree
Excited said, “Please Jesus come with me.”
He led Jesus home but the people grumbled
“How can Jesus eat with such a sinner?” they mumbled
“Doesn’t Jesus know how we hate this man
Who cheats us and takes from us all he can?”
In the presence of Jesus, Zacchaeus said, “I’m now sure
I will give half my wealth to help the poor
Anyone I have cheated I will repay them today
Because I’ve met Jesus, the Life, Truth and Way.”
Jesus, smiling, responded, “Salvation has come
To taxman Zacchaeus and to all his home
“What he has just said is so right and so just
I have come to seek and save those who are lost.”
Luke 19:1-9
It was Passover time and the crowds had been great
But now it was quieter and getting quite late.
As I secretly slipped down the outside stairs
I thought I could see men walking with flares.
I hurried to the garden hid behind olive trees
Could see that the Master was on his knees.
Three disciples were near him but fast asleep
Then as I listened I heard Jesus speak.
“Your spirits are willing but your bodies are weak.
Then he left them again and started to pray
‘Oh, Abba Father, please take this away
But yet I want to fulfil your will
For this reason I was born, and I’m willing still
To give up my life so that others may come
Be forgiven and share our heavenly home.
Jesus got up again and I heard him say
“It’s only been an hour, watch and pray”
But the disciples didn’t even open their eyes
Which I didn’t understand and was rather surprised.
The Master’s soul seemed crushed with grief
But as I wondered how to bring relief
The whole garden was suddenly filled with light
By the flares I’d seen earlier piercing the night
Then I noticed Judas leading the crowd
Of priests and soldiers carrying clubs and swords.
Judas walked up to Jesus, gave him a kiss
Immediately soldiers rushed in, they couldn’t miss
For Judas’ greeting showed this was the one
The revolutionary for whom they had come.
I looked for Jesus’ friends but they’d all run away
Then as, frightened, I watched I heard Jesus say
You could have taken me sooner I was teaching each day
But these things are happening so you will see
All the Scriptures are being fulfilled in me.
It was then the mob caught sight of me
I was still there hiding behind the tree
They pulled off my nightshirt and naked I fled
Back to my house and into my bed.
I’m so glad I heard the things Jesus said
But they’re now going round and round in my head.
I’m considering if it’s true what Jesus is saying
That I can say ‘Abba’ when I am praying
Praying to God the Almighty Creator
Coming to him to speak as to my Father.
Also what does it mean when I heard Jesus say
“Please Father can you take this cup away
I wonder too if what Jesus said
That he’d rise again after he was dead
Will come true in three days time
And that we can remember with bread and wine.
I’ve so many questions I need answers for
But I should sleep now before I think of more
Tomorrow I will ask Peter to help me
Perhaps he can guide me to see more clearly.
I must also share with him what Jesus said
So it can be written down and widely read.
Tomorrow, of course, is Passover Day
When God, for a year, takes our sins away
By the blood of the sacrificed lamb.
Mark 14:32-42
I was so blessed by God’s promise
The promise of a son in old age
The joy and rejoicing of my heart.
I did nothing to deserve such a baby
Nor did anything wrong for him to be taken.
Taken away in the midst of life.
I will release him, return him once more
To where he came from, to the One who gave
Let God restore, breathe into him new life.
2 Kings 4:8-37
He thought he had all the answers
Was so sure of himself but then
He encountered the Rabbi Jesus
Who said, “you need to be born again.”
“What on earth do you mean? “asked Nico
“I am already quite an old man
Can I get back inside my mother
And be born all over again?”
“You don’t understand,” replied Jesus
“I am speaking of spiritual birth
That’s the reason I came from heaven
To bring God’s own light to the earth.”
“God so loved the world that He gave me
To die for you and if you believe
You will never come under God’s judgment
But everlasting life receive.”
We are not told if Nicodemus
Decided to believe Jesus that night
But the offer’s still open to everyone
Who’s in darkness and wants spiritual light.
John 3
Abel did nothing that was very exciting
Like Enoch who went to heaven without dying
Like Noah who God told to build a great boat
That during the flood would keep his family afloat
Like Abraham who left home not knowing where he went
But by faith trusted God when he was sent.
Sarah, who also believed, when she was told
That she would have a baby although very old.
Jacob, when dying, blessed both Joseph’s sons
Prophesying how God’s will would be done.
Like Joseph who went through so many struggles
To wonderfully provide, in the famine, for his brothers.
Like Moses who God used to set His people free
From slavery and the Pharaoh’s tyranny.
So many others like Gideon, Samson and David
Who overthrew kingdoms and ruled with justice.
Now Abel is listed with these faithful women and men
Because by faith he worshipped God by sacrificing a lamb.
He was murdered by his brother and never became
A famous historic figure but just the same
God was pleased to call him a righteous man
For in faith he gave God of his very best
So he’s listed in Hebrews eleven with all the rest.
