POEMS TEACHING ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

By Maurice Dyson

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The Fourth Gospel
But these are written, that ye might believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20:31

John is a gospel that’s easy to read
Simple true stories on which we can feed
It gives the setting of that great event
God’s incarnation for which He was sent.

He is presented at first as the Word
Living before this creation occurred
Then by distinct and miraculous birth
He came from heaven to live on the earth.

Jesus by preaching and visible sign
Showed to the nation its deepest decline
Yet there was always, as ever has been
People who trust Him for what they have seen.

He is resisted by those who are proud
As He addresses a sign-hungry crowd
Nothing deters Him from reaching the goal
That crucifixion for each living soul.

Now He is risen, alive from the dead,
He is forever the life-giving bread
Coming again with His crowns for reward
Jesus our Saviour renowned and adored.

 

The God-Man
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.
Isaiah 9:6

So high in the heavens, exalted, revered,
A Person is seated and waiting;
Awaiting the day to which others are geared;
As now we shall be contemplating.

The Lord as Creator of heaven and earth
Is thereby distinct from creation;
And yet He was willing to undergo birth,
Uniquely conceived for His station.

For He had a mission as part of His plan;
In fact it was crucial and central;
As knowing that after creating the man,
Redemption would be consequential.

Our sin has polluted the whole of our life;
The outcome is plainly destructive;
For there is an angel, the source of all strife,
Deceitful, alert, and seductive.

The qualities ever consistent and real
Are those with the mark of perfection;
For such is the essence the scriptures reveal:
Of God with no shade of defection.

For justice and righteousness must be observed,
As each is eternally rooted;
They both have been guarded and truly preserved;
A factor which can’t be disputed.

As God would provide such a Man for the task,
A virgin gave birth as appointed;
For He would do all that the Father would ask;
A Son by the Spirit anointed.

Now only in scripture the Truth is revealed;
So God became Man in a union;
For only in Jesus salvation is sealed,
In Him is our life and communion.

So high in the heavens the Lord Jesus Christ
Is offering now His redemption;
For such is the value of souls that He prized,
That there should not be an exemption.

For He is the Person our souls will embrace
If we have accepted His offer;
But if we have not we shall stay in disgrace,
Deprived of all joy as we suffer.

 

Helper of the Helpless
For when we were yet without strength,
in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:6

Creator, Judge and Saviour;
Our God is Lord above.
In majesty and splendour;
Supreme in truth and love.
Enthroned in power and glory;
Endued with strength and might.
Impeccable and holy;
He dwells in perfect light.

Possessing every virtue,
Unique to Him alone.
Adored by all the angels,
Who worship at His throne.
Inviting every sinner,
No matter what we’ve done,
To honour God the Father,
And venerate the Son.

O Lord I know You love us;
And we should love You too.
We are so weak and helpless;
We all depend on You.
Please lift us when we stumble,
And feed us every day,
Until we stand before You,
And time has passed away.

 

Beloved
Whom having not seen, ye love.
1 Peter 1:8

Do not let your heart be troubled,
He is coming back one day.
As He prayed the heavenly Father,
We are safe while He’s away.
Though the way is straight and narrow,
He has taken all our care;
When this earthly fight is over,
We shall meet up in the air.

Should this body groan within us,
It is but a temporary home.
Once He breathes His Spirit in us,
We are never more alone.
By His grace we shall be strengthened,
If we stumble on the path;
Resting on His sure foundation,
No more destined for His wrath.

As a Father so He tends us;
Giving shelter, clothes and food.
There’s no need for gloom or worry,
Though the times be bad or good.
Young or old or adolescent,
There is ample scope for each,
In our corner of His vineyard,
Learning what He has to teach.

Healthy, sickly, weak or dying,
There is but one plan for all.
From the womb a soul immortal,
Must before the Judgment fall.
For believers, judgment passes
Onto Him who bore their shame;
But for those who do not trust Him,
Torment in a lasting flame.

Oh the greatness of His mercy,
That He should descend so far;
Reaching out to every sinner,
Knowing just how weak we are;
How can we bypass His goodness,
When He hung upon the tree;
Saying with the thief beside Him:
Lord, wilt Thou remember me.

 

What Do You Say?
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Matthew 12:36

If I should say within my heart
When life is troublesome and sad,
There is a God, but where is He?
He does not care though times are bad.
Then I must turn in helpless state,
To find my help in One so great,
Who came to seek the weak and lost,
And suffered at tremendous cost.
His love for me could not be known,
Until I had become His own.

If I should say I trust in Him,
Yet do not heed His written word;
He will not leave His discipline,
Till that which has been said is heard.
His word is clear and not abstruse;
It stays effective by its use.
Our faith is but the vehicle
To comprehend the miracle,
Of God incarnate on the Tree,
Where Jesus bled for you and me.

If you should say, I cannot solve
The answer to my peace of mind.
Then go to Him who knows your heart;
A Saviour who is good and kind.
He is our peace and constant Friend;
Our only hope to journey’s end.
He died for all and rose again;
He’s coming soon in power to reign;
His word is sure and cannot fail;
His love and justice will prevail.

 

The Morning Star
When they saw the star,
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Matthew 2:10

Our Saviour left His throne above
To show the world His Father’s love.
At Bethlehem, the house of bread,
They laid Him on a manger bed.

An infant child both small and weak,
But still the One whom wise men seek;
For He alone can save the soul
And point us to our heavenly goal.

If you have never met the Lord
Through disobedience to His Word
Then be prepared to hear Him say,
I never knew you! Go away!

But if you think His claims are true
And that He really cares for you,
Then be like me, obey His voice
And make your most important choice.

 

The Choice Is Yours
They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced.
Zechariah 12:10

'Twas just His choice He left His throne,
To dwell with those not called His own,
To call by name that they might be,
Life members of His family,
And live with Him eternally.

'Twas just His will that He should be
The object of our infamy;
Foregoing rights and bearing scorn,
Enduring shame, reviled, forlorn;
To make in One a race newborn.

'Twas just His faithfulness that He,
When being nailed onto the tree;
Remained until the price was paid;
And then within the tomb be laid;
The full work of atonement made.

For all is ready, time is full;
Salvation near, without annul;
You may now come, the choice is yours,
Till death arrives and then the doors
Of heaven closed by sacred cause.

His precious blood, my only plea;
If anyone should say to me:
What did He therefore do for you
To free from sin and judgment due?
My risen Lord so pure and true.

 

His Sufficiency
My grace is sufficient for thee.
2 Corinthians 12:9

Before the universe was born,
Or earth had seen the light of dawn,
Our God Creator had decreed
That He would meet our every need;
For He would in the form of man,
In time fulfil a perfect plan,
To save believers from their sin;
A place of joy to enter in;
His one intention that they be,
With Him for all eternity.

For man’s own part it must be seen,
That faith in God has always been
The only way to flee from wrath,
Which we incur from human birth;
Beginning on our downward slide,
From where we did at first abide;
For ‘tis our nature to rebel;
It does not take too long to tell,
That we are heading for the Pit,
Lest someone gets us out of it.

A Mediator has been found;
Not having sin or earthly bound;
A Person who would by His deed
Be fit to represent the seed.
He must be human and divine;
His birth be true to David’s line;
His life be faultless, offered pure;
His blood our ransom, sealed and sure;
His risen life is ours to share;
His matchless glory waiting there.

If anyone should think that they
Can leave it till another day,
Then pause a moment, try to see
The case of Esau’s history.
He sold his birthright for a meal;
And then fell victim to a deal;
He lost that which was due to him;
Because his view of grace was dim;
For not a thing could be retrieved,
Of what his brother Jacob thieved.

Now should a good man chance remark,
I do not live in total dark;
I try to do the best I can,
And live at peace with every man.
But ah, you leave those works behind
Like all the rest of humankind;
The work of Christ upon the Tree
Will last for all eternity;
The deeds of mortals cannot save
From what awaits beyond the grave.

For there is not another name,
Immortalised by human fame,
Inhabiting this planet earth;
Who came by means of human birth,
Except the One from Bethlehem,
Rejected by the sons of men;
The Saviour who was virgin born,
Uniquely on a Jewish morn.
O Son of Mary, Lord we pray,
Receive our praises day by day.

 

The Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.   
John 10:11

Before man existed or earth had been fashioned,
And space-time had not yet occurred;
Our Lord whom we know as the Saviour from heaven
Eternally lived as the Word.
He made all the stars that shine brightly above us;
He spoke, and they came at His call.
The earth with its colourful flowers and beauty;
The sun giving warmth to us all.

In Him was the life which enlightens our darkness,
And shines in the blackness around.
The forces of evil could not overcome it,
Although they are strong and abound.
He came to His own but they did not receive Him,
Although they were chosen of old.
He sent forth a man as a witness before Him:
The one whom the prophets foretold.

The Word became flesh in the form of our manhood;
His dwelling place humble and low.
He came as a Man who was truthful and gracious
With blessings to share and bestow.
His witness called John gave a true testimony:
The One who proceeds after me,
Has always existed and must take precedence;
There is no one greater than He.

The Lord called out followers, Andrew and Peter;
Nathaniel and Philip and John;
Who left their professions and all their possessions
And followed where He led them on.
By trusting the Saviour they made a commitment
Which bound them together in love;
Although they were weak and their faith was untested,
The Lord gave them grace from above.

The Lord is still calling to those who will listen,
And know they can’t make it alone.
In love He is seeking the sheep who are dying,
Because they have strayed on their own.
Whenever He catches a faint cry of weakness,
Aware of their anguish and pain;
He follows that cry till at last He has found them,
And brings them rejoicing again.

 

Seven Signs
This beginning of signs Jesus did
in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his
glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John 2:11

The signs in the scriptures
Have one thing in view
By pointing with actions
To One who is true.

We find in John’s gospel
The witness is seven
They each can be studied
As manna from heaven.

The first was a marriage
Where spirits were low
The wine was in shortage
A serious blow.

His mother told Jesus
The desperate need
And then He accomplished
His wonderful deed.

The servants got orders
To fill up each pot
Go fill them with water!
Which meant quite a lot.

Then draw from the water
And take it with care
To him who is ruling
This marriage affair.

Who tasted the new wine
And called to the host
The wine you are serving
Is better than most.

This sign done at Cana
In old Galilee
Displayed the Lord’s glory
For all who could see.

When His own disciples
Saw what He had done
Their faith was established
In Jesus the Son.
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A nobleman’s offspring
Was nigh unto death
His father sought Jesus
While still there was breath.

On hearing that Jesus
Was in Galilee
He came quite a distance
From home by the sea.

The Lord gave a challenge
To those in the crowd
Unless you see wonders
Your head won’t be bowed.

The nobleman answered
With desperate cries
Please come; he repeated,
Before my son dies.

The Lord gave His answer
Go now on your way!
Your son he is living!
He did not delay.

He went as directed
To Capernaum
Then as he was going
His servents met him.

They told him his loved one
Revived at an hour
The same time that Jesus
Had spoken before.

The nobleman trusted
His faith now assured
With all of his household
That Jesus was Lord.

This wonder of healing
The second we see
Was also in Cana
In old Galilee.
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A pool named Bethesda
In Jerusalem
Was crowded by many
With ailments in them.

There was a tradition
Or common belief
That when the pool rippled
It brought on relief.

For at a due season
An angel, so heard,
Would trouble the water
With healing inferred.

A man had been laid there
For thirty-eight years
He needed assistance
To ward off his fears.

When Jesus approached him
With inner foresight
He asked if he wanted
Relief from his plight.

He answered morosely
Whenever it’s so
Another one gets there
Before I can go.

Then Jesus responded
Rise! Take up your bed!
Then straightway the man did
As Jesus had said.

It was on the Sabbath
This healing took place
The Jews were indignant
At such a disgrace.

They said it’s not lawful
To carry your bed
The man just repeated
What Jesus had said.

Their sharp persecution
Sparked off by this sign
Exposed their position
In what they malign.

They sought to kill Jesus
For breaking the law
And when He spoke further
They sought even more.

For Jesus spoke plainly
Of His deity
But for unbelievers
That never could be.

Messiah was with them
If they would believe
But this was a prospect
They could not receive.

Thus far go these wonders
That any can read
They stamp the Lord’s nature
By word and by deed.
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Now thousands were gathered
Beyond Galilee
Because of the wonders
Performed publicly.

It was the occasion
For those He had led
To test their discernment
In buying some bread.

Now Andrew had noticed
A lad with some lunch
But how could a morsel
Feed such a great bunch.

The Lord took the fishes
And five barley loaves
And seated the people
In orderly groves.

Then after thanksgiving
He gave food for all
For Jesus is Master
Of things great and small.

The people who witnessed
The sign on that day
Were not of the metal
For mending their way.

The Lord did not offer
A freedom from Rome
But something far greater:
A heavenly home.
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As Jesus was passing
He saw a man blind
That hopeless condition
Of stricken mankind.

The Lord made a poultice
Of spittle and earth
And smeared on the eyelids
Of him blind from birth.

Go wash in Siloam
He said with intent
The blind man responded
So forthwith he went.

He washed and came seeing
A new entity
Some said it is like him
He said, I am he.

Again it was Sabbath
As happened before
The Pharisees noted
This break of the law.

They questioned him closely
Albeit, with guise
He said He’s a prophet
Who opened my eyes.

But they were so hardened
They would not agree
That Jesus was someone
As He claimed to be.

The man was astounded
By people so blind
Would they not consider
A change of the mind?

The Pharisees’ anger
Amounted to scorn
The man was ejected
Before it was dawn.

When Jesus had found him
He made it quite clear
That Jesus Himself
Is the God who is here.

The man bowed in worship
His life born anew
The eyes of his soul-life
Were now opened too.
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Another sick person
By name Lazarus
Had sisters close by him
Who sent for Jesus.

The Lord did not hasten
To go to His friend
For He had true knowledge
Of how this would end.

He told His disciples
This brother has died
The faith of the sisters
Was now being tried.

The body in question
Lay sealed in the tomb
The sisters were weeping
Expressing their gloom.

The Lord shared their sorrow
He felt for their need
But now they would witness
A wonderful deed.

They came to the tomb site
Where Lazarus lay
The Lord knew the outcome
But first He must pray.

O Father I thank Thee
My pleas Thou dost hear
But this prayer I offer
For these standing near.

The Lord called out loudly
To him who had died
And Lazarus came shuffling
His body still tied.

They loosened his wrappings
Until he was free
Then many more trusted
At what they could see.

This wonder foreshadows
A coming event
That great resurrection
No time can prevent.
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God’s plan was progressing
With battles severe
For sin with its judgment
Was now getting near.

Our Lord by subjection
Withstood every blow
So He could accomplish
His path even so.

The cross was before Him
He knew He must die
The Father would leave Him
To save you and I.

The cry, It is finished!
At last it was through
Our sins have been punished
A blessing so true.

The tomb was not able
To limit His goal
His great resurrection
Is life for the soul.

These signs as recorded
Are written and sealed
By trusting in Jesus
Our souls can be healed.

 

New Wine
In Thy presence is fulness of joy.
Psalm 16:11

At Cana, a wedding in old Galilee;
The Lord knew indeed what the outcome would be;
When Mary confided that they had no wine,
He quietly performed His remarkable sign.

The water pots stood for the washing of feet;
A custom observed ere they sat down to eat;
Though outwardly clean as occasion required,
It could not achieve what the Saviour desired.

He told them to fill up the pots to the brim;
His simple instruction was no passing whim;
They drew out and took as the Lord bid them do,
And what had been water was now something new.

The old wine was gone and the new wine was here;
The signal from Jesus would soon be made clear;
The hour was approaching when He would be slain,
And three days thereafter be raised up again.

The wedding at Cana prefigures the day,
When former traditions have faded away;
The King will appear with the bride of His choice,
And all of creation will shout and rejoice.

 

The Lord’s Passion
…He showed Himself alive after His passion…
Acts 1:3

As Jesus was nearing
The hour of His need,
With passion and tension it bore;
He spoke in the hearing
Of those who gave heed
To teachings of life evermore.

A woman came softly
And knelt at His feet;
The One she adored and revered;
The perfume was costly,
Her manner discreet,
With actions that make her endeared.

She poured out the perfume,
Anointing His head,
Befitting the death of a King;
The scent filled the whole room
With fragrance it spread;
Depicting the life it would bring.

Then came the occasion
Of Unleavened Bread;
For leaven is that which offends;
So this celebration
That pointed ahead,
Did Jesus observe with His friends.

When supper was ended,
The emblem remained
Of bread that depicted the feast;
The work so intended
To rescue the chained
And pardon the great and the least.

And then they departed
To Gethsemane,
The venue where Jesus would pray;
For so had been chartered
His path to the Tree,
To bear all our misdeeds away.

The others were sleeping
While He was in prayer,
Preparing Himself for the cup;
For left in His keeping
Was sin He would bear;
The full wrath of God He would sup.

Then came an intrusion;
An army arrayed
For battle with weapons of swords;
To counter confusion,
As might be displayed,
The Lord gave Himself to the cords.

The trials that followed,
Unlawfully staged
Were quickly thereafter convened;
With speech so unhallowed,
As methods engaged,
So justice was plain contravened.

And then before Pilate,
He finally stood,
With all His accusers around;
Yet He remained silent
As long as He should,
For hatred and sin did abound.

Then Pilate insisted
Before all the crowd,
I find nothing wrong in this man;
But they just persisted
With voices aloud;
Their lusting for blood overran.

Along with the urging
Of blasphemous smear,
And blows they had rained in their scorn,
He underwent scourging,
A whipping severe;
His back became bloody and torn.

He carried His cross bar
They laid on His back,
But He could not bear up the weight;
The blood He lost thus far
Was just an attack,
To cut off His ultimate fate.

They came to Golgotha,
The Place of the Skull;
He lay as they drove in the nails;
For there He would offer
His sanctified soul,
As all other sacrifice fails.

The sheer desolation
That Jesus endured,
When suffering for you and for me,
Defies all narration,
Yet what He secured,
Assures all believers are free.

His body was taken
And laid in a tomb;
The entrance was carefully sealed;
Yet soon to awaken
From darkness and gloom,
As newness of life is revealed.

And so did He enter
The realm of His throne;
Ascending above every height;
With love at the centre,
He prays for His own,
Until He returns in His might.

The fruit of His passion
Is with us today;
The Church that exists as we speak;
Not of this world’s fashion,
It goes on its way;
The path of the humble and meek.

 

The Olivet Discourse
Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but My words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24:35

As God is perceptive of all that occurs,
Beholding events in advance;
In love He has told us of what lies ahead,
For nothing can happen by chance.

The Lord was preparing His few chosen sheep,
For things they would see in their time,
As they were admiring the great temple scene,
A structure ornate and sublime.

This beautiful temple with all of its wealth
Would one day be ashes and smoke,
And thus was the prophecy duly fulfilled,
Some forty years after He spoke.

The fall of Jerusalem, 70 AD,
Is found in the annals of men;
Disasters from God which have happened like this
Are certain to happen again.

As Jesus was with His disciples that day
He sat on the Olivet Mount,
And gave forth His discourse of future events;
A detailed and graphic account.

They asked Him of things which would signal the end,
When times of the age are complete;
He warned them of famines in various climes
When hardship would reach every street.

Let no one deceive you for many will come
Assuming to speak in My name;
And say, I am He, thus deceiving the world,
While spreading their counterfeit claim.

And when you hear rumours of fighting and wars
Do not be unsettled nor fear,
For such things must happen increasingly so
As friendships of old disappear.

For you will be hated because of My name
And great persecutions will come,
And then they will bring you up into the courts,
Take care that you do not succumb.

And do not premeditate what you shall say
For such will be given to you;
The Spirit of God will be speaking to them
With words which they cannot subdue.

But when you see that which the prophet foretold;
That covert and blasphemous smear;
Then those in the country should flee to the hills,
For great tribulation is near.

The Lord went on further describing events
In terms of a parable play;
When fig trees are budding you clearly can tell
That summer is well on the way.

So likewise, when things such as these are in view,
You know that the kingdom is nigh,
Take heed to yourselves lest the cares of this life
Distract you as things passing by.

The kingdom of God can be likened as such
To virgins awaiting the groom,
But on his arrival were found fast asleep,
Which sealed their unspeakable doom.

Or likened to one who has travelled afar
And left his possessions behind,
Distributing talents to each of his staff,
To use as occasion would find.

The Day of the Lord will arrive as a snare
On all those who dwell on the earth;
And just as the days which preceded the flood,
True value will have little worth.

Then Jesus repeated this simple command
To all who will hear and obey:
Be watchful as servants who wait for their Lord
Till empires have faded away.

 

 

Seven Cries
My God, My God,
why hast Thou forsaken Me?
Psalm 22:1

The gospels give a clear account
Of our Redeemer’s death:
The words He uttered on the mount,
Before His dying breath.

He prayed as He was being nailed
Upon that lonely tree;
And with His hands and feet impaled,
He made His earnest plea.

Forgive them, Father, so He cried,
They know not what they do;
While malefactors on each side,
Hung on their crosses too.

Then one spoke out in fearful tone;
Lord, please remember me!
From that time he was not alone
For all eternity.

The Lord replied immediately,
With comfort for his cries;
You shall indeed abide with Me
Today in Paradise.

Now certain women stood by there,
With His apostle John;
He placed His mother in his care,
Who took her thereupon.

Then after Jesus offered up
His pure and sinless soul;
He drank that awful dreaded cup
By which He made us whole.

And from His lips there came that plea,
My God, My God, He cried;
O why hast Thou forsaken Me?
The loss He could not hide.

Those last three hours when darkness fell
Upon that judgment scene;
Was when our souls were saved from hell
By One so pure and clean.

His cries did not go up in vain,
Until our Lord was cursed;
And then in deep distress and pain,
He cried again, I thirst.

And when that perfect sacrifice
Of victory was won;
As nothing else could e’er suffice,
He shouted, It is done.

Into Thy hands...His final prayer;
His spirit was released,
Committed to the Father’s care;
His body now deceased.

But death could not hold down the Lord,
He rose up from the tomb;
His word remains a sharpened sword,
For happiness or doom.

 

A Trilogy
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Ephesians 3:21

A Hymn of Praise.

A brother is writing a letter
To those who are faithful and true;
In Him who has loosed every fetter,
And cancelled the debt that was due.

His gracious and peaceable greeting,
In keeping with holy accord,
Is found in the God we are meeting:
The Son and the Father adored.

For blest be the Father forever;
The Father of Jesus the Son,
Who in His redemptive endeavour
Has blessed us in all He has done.

According as when we were chosen;
Before the foundations were laid;
Before the earth’s mantle was frozen,
Or angelic creatures were made.

That we should be blameless and holy,
Before Him in love that He gives;
In Christ our Deliverer solely:
The Saviour who endlessly lives.

Adopted as sons to the Father;
Predestined according to plan;
From people afar He would gather,
And make them in Christ a new man.

For so was His good will and pleasure;
The praise of His glory and grace;
The depth of His merciful treasure;
The love that we see in His face.

In Him who has made us accepted;
Redeemed by His excellent blood;
Forgiven, no longer rejected;
As sinners yet counted as good.

His riches of grace overflowing;
Abounding in wisdom to all;
Revealing His will to the knowing;
His purpose for those in His call.

To gather together creation,
In one from the earth and the sky;
In times of the full dispensation;
In Christ as the ages go by.

In whom all believers have trusted;
Obtaining a heritage sure;
Where trees by a river are clustered;
A home for the meek and the pure.

Now sealed by the Spirit once given;
A purchased possession from high;
A bond that can never be riven;
A planting that never can die.

All praise to the Father of glory;
All praise to the glorious Son;
All praise to the Spirit Most Holy;
All praise to the blest Three-In-One.

 

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