The Open Heaven

Father God you sent your Son
Down to this earth.
At the virgin birth
Shepherds came , and kings from afar
We’re led to worship by a star
And so that angels could praise
You opened heaven.

On the Jordan’s bank
When Jesus sank
In baptismal water
God spoke from above
Declared His love
By sending the dove
From the opened heaven.

When there were only three to see
You gave a glimpse of eternity
When you metamorphosed yourself
Becoming whiter than snow
To show to those on earth below
The true person of Jesus
God’s voice rang out
“This is my Son”
From the opened heaven.

On Good Friday
When darkness fell
God’s beloved Son
Tasted hell
But on Easter morn
Well before dawn
To receive the Redeemer
Heaven opened.
Then on ascension day
To receive Christ Jesus
As King to reign
Heaven opened again.

Ruth Jessup

The Inbetween Day

Ruth Jessup

The Emmaus Walk

Two downcast walkers
Disillusioned
Disappointed
Down trodden
Dreams dashed
Feel forsaken.

A stranger appears
Walks and talks with them
Explains the Scriptures
Concerning Himself
Blind, broken hearts
Become believing, burning hearts
Transformed
By the Living Word
Jesus.

Luke 24

Ruth Jessup

Reconciliation to God

Sheltered in a stable
Snuggled in a manger
The baby Christ Jesus
Brought God to man.

Exposed on a hill top
Hung on a cross of wood
The man Christ Jesus
Brings man to God.

A miraculous birth
Brings peace to earth
A divine sacrifice
Imparts spiritual life.

Ruth Jessup

Tears of Sorrow and Joy

Did you weep Father God
When your only Son died?
I know Jesus cried
When his best friend died.
But today I was wondering whether
Tears and death for you
Also went together
As they did for me
When my loved one died.
And if my limited love
On this earth makes me cry
I think the God of Love’s eyes
Did not remain dry.

Yet God knew of course
Death was not the end
That on the third day
Christ would rise again.
His victory over death
Includes everyone and me
I can have certain hope
In this reality.

So the tears of sorrow
Become tears of joy
Knowing those who have died
Down through the years
I shall see again
In God’s home above
When reunited with Father
And all that I love.

Ruth Jessup

From God To Father

My God, my God
Why? Why?
Acute pain
Utter agony
Desolation
Forsaken
Why?

Father. My Father
Into your hands
I commit myself
Darkness to light
Despair to hope
Suffering to glory
No longer
Why?

Ruth Jessup

Resurrection

Very early on Sunday morning
Women came to the garden
As day was dawning
To see the tomb
The soldiers had sealed
With a rolling stone
On Friday night
But sitting astride the stone
Now moved
Was an angel
Dressed in dazzling white.

Why have you come?
Christ isn’t here
He tried to explain
And make it clear
You’re in the wrong place
He’s no longer dead
He’s come back to life
Just as He said He would.
So
Go quickly and tell
His other friends
Now is the beginning
Not the end.

Luke 24: 1-8

Ruth Jessup

Trial

Jesus the Word
Said not a word
When cross-examined by Annas
Stood silent
Said not a word.

When challenged by Caiaphas
“Are you a king.”
Jesus, the King of Kings
Stood silent
Said not a word.

When questioned by Herod Antipas
Had no questions
Gave no answers
Stood silent
Said not a word.

Yet when interviewed by Pilate
Spoke eloquently
Answered the question
“Are you the King of the Jews?
“It is as you say.”
“I came to bring truth.”
Pilate, “What is truth?!”

Before Herod the king
Before religious priests
Before Jewish leaders
Jesus stood silent
He said not a word.

Before the Roman Governor
Jesus spoke the truth
Pilate was impressed
“I find no fault in this man.”

Jesus Christ
Messiah
King of Kings
Son of God
Son of Man
The everlasting word
Stood silent
So that I might stand
Before Almighty God
Said not a word
So that I might speak freely
To His heavenly Father.

Ruth Jessup

Despair & Hope

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

Ruth Jessup

Everlasting Hill

Looking at the hills
In my mind I see
A wooden cross
Where Jesus died for me.
Then looking up
To the sky above
I fully realise
The extent of His love
For all the glory
Above the sky
He gave up
When He came
To earth to die.

Father God turned away
The day Jesus died
But three days later
He glorified
His beloved Son
When by His power
He raised Him up
Returned to His Son
The place at His side
On His heavenly throne
From where He will come
Claim the redeemed as His own
For by His own precious blood
He reconciled man to God.

Hebrews 12:22-24

Ruth Jessup