So We May Be Risen With Jesus

All was peaceful in the Garden of Eden,
A beautiful union between God and man was woven.

But things don’t always happen as we would like them to in life,
A devious serpent subtly spoke an enticing lie to Adam’s wife.

It was Lucifer’s own desire to “be like God”, that led to his fall,
Soon, he would be reduced to even more, and forced to crawl.

So at the Tree of Life, the woman, and Adam too, was deceived,
The relationship between God and man was severed, and a curse was received.

But with this curse, a promise was given,
A savior would come, so our transgressions could be forgiven.

This Man would be despised and rejected of men,
Yet, He would still love them, and come to free them from their sin.

He would be wounded for their transgressions, and by His stripes they would be healed.
All He asked for was their faith in Him, so unto death He could be their shield.

A suffering servant who would come to lead the way,
So we could be fully restored to our Loving God one day.

Many years later, Emmanuel was born in a manger,
“God with us” had arrived to rescue us from danger.

He would show us how to overcome a world of sin,
And offer us a fresh start by allowing us to be born again.

At His weakest point, He took on Satan, while armed as The Word,
He showed how darkness flees when Truth is heard.

He took on twelve apostles, to teach them them what to say,
And brought forth miracles, while teaching us how to pray.

Truly, He brought goodness into a fallen world in need of hope and love,
Also, sending His Holy Spirit that descended from heaven like a dove.

He brought us everything we could possibly need,
But evil crept forward, and thus was planned a terrible deed.

Judas conspired with the chief priests, to turnover the One whom was sent to deliver,
His treacherous price against innocent blood; thirty pieces of silver.

At the last Passover, Jesus sat with the twelve He had adopted,
Fully aware, that by one of them a devious plan had been concocted.

He would dip the bread into the dish, and offer the sop to the one would betray Him,
Judas, the willful recipient of this transgression, allowing Satan to enter him, and turning his future grim.

Despite the evil deed, the Lord shared a supper with his friends and sang a hymn,
Sharing His body and blood, for the remission of our sin.

Soon after, Jesus told Peter he would deny Him three times before the cock would crow.
Peter, couldn’t believe it, but did it thrice, just as he heard the cock’s bellow.

On to the Mount of Olives, at the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus went to pray,
A request for the cup to pass over Him, while sweating blood, over the price He was about to pay.

Soon a multitude would arrive, and Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss,
As Christ was arrested, Peter swung at the ear of Malchus and did not miss.

One last miracle before He was to be taken away,
The ear touched by God’s love and healed, despite the hearts of those who sought to betray.

Taken to Caiaphas, where the scribes and the elders would assemble,
Despite two false witness, our Lord did not tremble.

Accused of blasphemy, and determined to be worthy of death was their command,
Many spat, buffeted, and abused Him with the palm of their hand.

Taken to Pilate to be judged one last time,
Pilate considered the matter, but could find no crime.

He gave the people two options to choose,
Free Barrabas, a notable prisoner, or Jesus, who when suggested, received boos.

The chief priests and elders convinced the people of a lie,
And so it was set, Barrabas would go free, and Jesus would die.

Soldiers stripped Him down, gave him a scarlet robe, and a crown of thorns that pierced His head.
Thy mocked and smote Our Lord, wanting Him to be dead.

Onward to Golgotha, the place of the skull,
While given vinegar mingled with gall.

A sign proclaiming “ This is Jesus, The King of the Jews” hung over Our Lord’s head,
So the people would mock Him as they read.

Hung on a cross between two thieves worthy of death.
One of them would confess Jesus with his last breath.

Mocked by the people until the ninth hour,
Soon it would be time for Jesus to die, and reveal God’s power.

Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, was cried out with a loud voice,
With one last cry, Jesus yielded up His Spirit by choice.

The veil of the temple was instantly torn in half, as the earth quaked and the rocks shook,
Many saints arose from their graves, into the holy city for those to see who would look.

The centurion, and those who crucified Jesus were suddenly awed,
Coming to understanding, that this truly was the Son of God.

After these events, Joseph of Arimathaea approached Pilate for the body of the One who had been slain,
Unto him, Christ’s body was delivered, dressed in clean linen, and carefully placed in a tomb where it was expected to remain.

The chief priests and pharisees once again came together, before Pilate, with a request.
Guard the tomb for three days so the disciples couldn’t steal the body was what they did suggest.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the the tomb where Jesus’ body did rest, just after the sabbath day.
Suddenly the earth shook and the stone blocking the tomb was rolled away.

Both Marys looked up and realized they were not alone,
Suddenly seeing, an angel of the Lord had come to move the stone.

The angel encouraged the women to be brave,
And gave them the news that Jesus had risen from the grave.

Into the city, they were sent to the disciples with great news,
Once again, they would meet Jesus and be taught how to walk in His shoes.

The eleven went into Galilee where Jesus had first appointed them,
Reunited with their master, and joyfully worshiping Him.

With one last lesson to all of them,
Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to all nations. Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.