God made existence, then made man
Raised people up through Abraham
Laid down the rules and gave them choice
Some would refuse, and some rejoice,
And some would speak the words he gave
That would foretell his plan to save.
Ole Joe would leave his fiancée
When she was found in family way
But his response, must have been awed
When angel said, "The dad is God".
The heavens spoke Messiah's fame
So from the east the Magi came.
Though Herod tried to have him killed
Escape to Egypt as God willed.
Then Joseph got another dream
That made the boy a Nazarene.
John preached out in the hot frontier,
"Repent, for God's kingdom is near."
Those who confessed he then baptized
But hypocrites he criticized
John said good trees produce good fruit
But bad ones get chopped at the root.
He spoke of One whose pow'r was high'r
Who'd baptize with the Spirit and fire.
Then Jesus came from Galilee
And said to John, "You baptize me".
God's Spirit came down like a dove,
"This is my Son, and him I love."
Then Jesus went away to fast
And after forty days had passed
The devil came to tempt him thrice
He said, "I bet some bread sounds nice".
Christ said, "Bread's not what keeps the bod,
but each word from the mouth of God".
Satan said, "Jump, if you're so blessed".
Christ said, "Don't put God to the test".
Next, "All the world I'll give to thee
If you'll bow down and worship me".
Then Jesus said, "You go away,
I'll kneel to God and him obey".
In Zebulun and then beyond
for those in darkness, light had dawned.
Reform and heaven Christ proclaims.
Called Simon, Andrew, John and James.
He preached the kingdom and good news.
He healed the sick among the Jews.
And as the people multiplied
He preached along the mountainside.
"The poor in spirit in heaven reign,
And those who mourn shall comfort gain.
The land will belong to the meek.
Get righteousness, shall those who seek.
On merciful, mercy is poured.
The pure in heart shall see the Lord.
The peacemakers shall be God's heirs
And those oppressed, the kingdom's theirs.
If someone's persecuting you,
You're blessed, they hurt the prophets too.
You are the salt and you're the light.
Be God's example of what's right.
The Law will stand, Christ kept it all.
You broke it, whether large or small.
Don't kill, we've know this all along
Hate in your heart is just as wrong.
Adultery is sure unjust
But so is just to gaze with lust.
Don't swear, just tell the truth of course.
Don't seek revenge, and don't divorce.
We can all love our friends with ease
Love too, like God, your enemies.
It's good to give to charity
And best to do it secretly.
Pray not for men, with show and pride
But humbly, God sees what's inside.
Praise you, O God, your kingdom come.
Provide our needs and keep us from
Temptation and the evil one.
Forgive us. May your will be done.
If you forgive those who hurt you
Then you'll receive forgiveness too.
And when you fast, don't make a show
But only you and God should know.
Don't store your wealth in bins on earth.
In heaven, treasure keeps its worth.
I have to break it to you, honey
You cannot serve both God and money.
Seek God's domain and righteousness
He'll take care of your food and dress.
Don't judge and say "oh he's the worst",
Instead correct your own sin first.
Just keep in mind in all you do
You do as you'd have done to you.
The road is broad, the gate is wide
That to destruction lets you slide.
If you'd have Life become your fate
Choose narrow road with little gate.
From teachers who make good fruit, learn.
Producers of bad fruit will burn."
In closing, Jesus told his flock
"Be wise and build upon the rock."
He said to "Go!" and to "Be clean!"
He healed as prophets had foreseen.
Just "Follow me" - we think we can -
But no rest for the Son of Man.
When seas get rough, we get real scared
It's like we think God's not prepared.
But he's the Lord that makes and saves
He's Lord of all, of wind and waves.
He drives out demons, forgive sins,
The hearts of sickly sinners wins.
He says "let mercy fill your slate".
He is the cause to celebrate.
He healed her who for years had bled.
He raised a young girl from the dead.
He healed the mute, he healed the blind.
His deeds the Pharisees maligned.
He preached in each town he went through.
The harvest ready, workers few.
He said, "Disciples, off you go.
Israelites yes, Gentiles no.
And don't take cash, you're worth your bread.
Just drive out demons, raise the dead.
Give peace among the homes you stay.
But if refused, shake dust away.
Your message that must stay premier:
The kingdom heaven has is near.
The world will hate you 'cause of me.
A house will have disunity.
When they arrest you, things look bleak
Don't fret, for through you God will speak.
Don't fear those who your flesh control.
But God who owns your flesh and soul.
He knows each bird, alive or dead.
He knows each hair upon your head.
Acknowledge me in front of men,
In front of God, I'll save you then.
Serve me or anyone I send
And you'll receive a dividend."
John asked, "It's you? or is there more?"
Christ said, "Good news preached to the poor".
"My messenger prepared a path,
but doubters doubt, and will get wrath.
God gets to choose who will be blessed.
Now come to me and you'll find rest."
On legal technicality?
Can one heal abnormality?
When asked by teachers if he should,
"It's always lawful to do good."
With actions benedictory
he leads justice to victory.
Blaspheme the Spirit - no fresh start.
The words you say flow from your heart.
Ask not to see a miracle
Faith's not from the empirical.
Defining his own family:
"It's those who follow God's decree."
He told the crowd a parable
Said, "live in soil that's arable".
Some hear but don't hear God's command
But blessed are you who understand.
As wheat among the evil weeds,
As power inside mustard seeds,
As pearls or nets, be leaven-like,
That's what the reign of heaven's like.
He healed and had compassion on
The crowds after the death of John.
With bread and just a couple fish
He fed five thousand all they wished.
Christ walked on water faithfully
And if we're called to, so can we.
Don't have cold hearts like blinded fools.
Seek God, not mere religious rules.
The people fed, a girl set free
By faith and with humility.
Beware false teachers, right now, run.
Instead heed the Anointed One.
Though Jesus renamed Simon Rock
He soon became a stumbling block
To save your life, count it a loss.
To follow Christ, pick up your cross.
To gain the world, in part or whole
Is worthless if you lose your soul.
They hiked up to a mountain space
Where like the sun shined Jesus' face.
A cloud engulfed them, big and bright
Said God, "In my Son I delight".
A man approached the Lord and kneeled,
He begged for his son to be healed.
Disciples watched the spirit bout
As Jesus drove the demon out.
They asked, "Why couldn't we succeed?"
He said, "You lack the faith you need."
"Betrayed soon to the hands of men
I'll die and then I'll rise again.
Be humble like a little child.
Christ came to clean the most defiled.
Be bold, God is your guarantor.
Forgive, you've been forgiven more.
The rules aren't to be cut and spliced.
Be innocent, and follow Christ.
The Lord is just, so for him sweat.
Don't worry 'bout what others get.
The first to last, the last to first.
The perfect killed for the accursed."
Indignant at two brothers' nerve
Discliples learned - to be great, Serve.
Despite the crowd, two blind men plea.
"Have mercy Lord," soon the could see.
Into the city rode the king
To make himself an offering.
He drove out merchants to declare
His house shall be a house of prayer.
The children cheered. The fig tree died.
You can have all with prayer applied.
The leaders still he did confound.
Then with some parables expound.
What matters more; just what you say,
Or actions that you do today?
God won't reward those offered first
If they refuse him, they'll be cursed.
The party's on, so just say Yes
And clothe yourself with righteousness.
He wasn't trapped by a tax quiz:
"Give rulers theirs, and God what's his".
He answered next, "Have you not read?
God rules the living, not the dead."
They tried to test him on the Law.
"Love God. Love people. There, that's all.
Then Christ unleashed his diatribe
Against the Pharisees and scribes.
"They add new rules for men to reach
But do not practice what they preach.
All that they do's for men to see
Their tassels and phylacteries.
They love their titles and good seats
To be saluted in the streets.
Though they put up a clean facade,
They swear by gold and don't trust God.
A tenth of spices they collect
But Faith and Mercy they neglect.
They preach abroad but shut the door
On sinners, prophets, God and more.
They're self-indulgent hypocrites
Whose house has been made desolate.
Instead, be servants, you redeemed
Be humbled first, to be esteemed."
Discussing how the world would end,
Disciples said, "So, tell us when."
"First wars and famines, earthquakes too
Then they'll hate Jesus freaks like you.
The faith of many will erode
As wickedness makes love grow cold.
In all the world, good news extend.
The saved will stand firm to the end.
When "I am God" claims the accursed
Then flee and prepare for the worst.
Don't trust false prophets' sorcery
When Jesus comes back, all shall see.
Don't join the drunkards, that'd be dumb
Keep watch, you don't know when he'll come.
Keep watch with your light burning bright
So you'll be ready day or night.
Serve God with talents given you
Do not let fear and sloth accrue
When helping others, those in need,
God will reward you, guaranteed."
The bad guys met before the feast
To plot with Caiaphus the priest
To capture Jesus. Judas joins.
He'll trade Christ in for thirty coins.
A woman poured upon his head
Perfume, since soon he would be dead.
Christ said, once Passover was made,
"By one of you I'll be betrayed.
Now eat, and drink, my blood is poured
The price for sin, in God's accord.
You are my flock, but you'll take flight.
In fact, you'll fall away tonight.
Sit here while I go there to pray
I'm sad and filled with much dismay.
Keep watch or sin may on you sneak.
The spirit willing, body weak.
My Father, take this from my please.
But only as your will decrees."
Then Judas led a multitude
He kissed Christ and a fight ensued
Till Jesus said, "Put down your sword.
You think I couldn't stop this horde?
But all must pass as prophets said."
Then the disciples, they all fled.
They grabbed and led him off to court
Their witness did the truth distort.
The chief priest said, "Won't you reply?
Are you the Son of God Most High?"
"As you have said. Now from this hour
The Son of Man shall sit with power.
They cried, "We've heard from his own breath.
That's blasphemy, send him to death."
Questioned if he with Jesus ran,
said Peter, "I don't know the man".
Then Judas, too, filled with remorse
Returned the money to its source.
The governor, now, for the Feast
Asked if they wanted Christ released.
The crowd did not want, he asked "Why?"
But they just shouted, "Crucify!"
The soldiers mocked the king with scorn
And capped him with a crown of thorns.
They crucified him, took his clothes
They mocked him to add to his woes.
"Though others he healed and forgave,
It seems himself he cannot save."
Then darkness came, though it was day,
"My God, why have you gone away?"
When Jesus died, the earth, it shook.
The soldiers shared a frightened look.
Now terrified, what had they done?
"For surely this man was God's son."
His body, wrapped, entombed it lay
A guard was posted night and day.
The Marys, shocked out of their gloom
An angel opened up the tomb!
The angel was like lightning, bright
The guards all nearly died of fright.
The angel said, "Don't be afraid.
Go see the place where he was laid.
Now he has risen from the dead.
Now go, for he has gone ahead.
They ran till Jesus they did meet.
They fell and worshipped at his feet.
Soon the disciples met him too
Some doubted while some worshipped true.
Said Jesus, "All authority
On earth and heaven giv'n to me.
Now go and all the nations reach
Disciple them, baptize and teach.
I am with you, at every stage,
Unto the very end of age."
© 2024 Jotham McCauley TheBibleRhymes.com