Paradise Regained: The Second Book
Meanwhile the new-baptized, who yet remained
At Jordan with the Baptist, and had seen
Him whom they heard so late expressly called
Jesus Messiah, Son of God, declared,
And on that high authority had believed,
And with him talked, and with him lodged—I mean
Andrew and Simon, famous after known,
With others, though in Holy Writ not named—
Now missing him, their joy so lately found,
So lately found and so abruptly gone,
Began to doubt, and doubted many days,
And, as the days increased, increased their doubt.
Sometimes they thought he might be only shewn,
And for a time caught up to God, as once
Moses was in the Mount and missing long,
And the great Thisbite, who on fiery wheels
Rode up to Heaven, yet once again to come.
Therefore, as those young prophets then with care
Sought lost Eliah, so in each place these
Nigh to Bethabara—in Jericho
The city of palms, AEnon, and Salem old,
Machaerus, and each town or city walled
On this side the broad lake Genezaret,
Or in Peraea—but returned in vain.
Then on the bank of Jordan, by a creek,
Where winds with reeds and osiers whispering play,
Plain fishermen (no greater men them call),
Close in a cottage low together got,
Their unexpected loss and plaints outbreathed:—
"Alas, from what high hope to what relapse
Unlooked for are we fallen! Our eyes beheld
Messiah certainly now come, so long
Expected of our fathers; we have heard
His words, his wisdom full of grace and truth.
'Now, now, for sure, deliverance is at hand;
The kingdom shall to Israel be restored:'
Thus we rejoiced, but soon our joy is turned
Into perplexity and new amaze.
For whither is he gone? what accident
Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire
After appearance, and again prolong
Our expectation? God of Israel,
Send thy Messiah forth; the time is come.
Behold the kings of the earth, how they oppress
Thy Chosen, to what highth their power unjust
They have exalted, and behind them cast
All fear of Thee; arise, and vindicate
Thy glory; free thy people from their yoke!
But let us wait; thus far He hath performed—
Sent his Anointed, and to us revealed him
By his great Prophet pointed at and shown
In public, and with him we have conversed.
Let us be glad of this, and all our fears
Lay on his providence; He will not fail,
Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall—
Mock us with his blest sight, then snatch him hence:
Soon we shall see our hope, our joy, return."
Thus they out of their plaints new hope resume
To find whom at the first they found unsought.
But to his mother Mary, when she saw
Others returned from baptism, not her Son,
Nor left at Jordan tidings of him none,
Within her breast though calm, her breast though pure,
Motherly cares and fears got head, and raised
Some troubled thoughts, which she in sighs thus clad:—
"Oh, what avails me now that honour high,
To have conceived of God, or that salute,
'Hail, highly favoured, among women blest!'
While I to sorrows am no less advanced,
And fears as eminent above the lot
Of other women, by the birth I bore:
In such a season born, when scarce a shed
Could be obtained to shelter him or me
From the bleak air? A stable was our warmth,
A manger his; yet soon enforced to fly
Thence into Egypt, till the murderous king
Were dead, who sought his life, and, missing, filled
With infant blood the streets of Bethlehem.
From Egypt home returned, in Nazareth
Hath been our dwelling many years; his life
Private, unactive, calm, contemplative,
Little suspicious to any king. But now,
Full grown to man, acknowledged, as I hear,
By John the Baptist, and in public shewn,
Son owned from Heaven by his Father's voice,
I looked for some great change. To honour? no;
But trouble, as old Simeon plain foretold,
That to the fall and rising he should be
Of many in Israel, and to a sign
Spoken against—that through my very soul
A sword shall pierce. This is my favoured lot,
My exaltation to afflictions high!
Afflicted I may be, it seems, and blest!
I will not argue that, nor will repine.
But where delays he now? Some great intent
Conceals him. When twelve years he scarce had seen,
I lost him, but so found as well I saw
He could not lose himself, but went about
His Father's business. What he meant I mused—
Since understand; much more his absence now
Thus long to some great purpose he obscures.
But I to wait with patience am inured;
My heart hath been a storehouse long of things
And sayings laid up, pretending strange events."
Thus Mary, pondering oft, and oft to mind
Recalling what remarkably had passed
Since first her Salutation heard, with thoughts
Meekly composed awaited the fulfilling:
The while her Son, tracing the desert wild,
Sole, but with holiest meditations fed,
Into himself descended, and at once
All his great work to come before him set—
How to begin, how to accomplish best
His end of being on Earth, and mission high.
For Satan, with sly preface to return,
Had left him vacant, and with speed was gone
Up to the middle region of thick air,
Where all his Potentates in council sate.
There, without sign of boast, or sign of joy,
Solicitous and blank, he thus began:—
"Princes, Heaven's ancient Sons, AEthereal Thrones—
Daemonian Spirits now, from the element
Each of his reign allotted, rightlier called
Powers of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth beneath
(So may we hold our place and these mild seats
Without new trouble!)—such an enemy
Is risen to invade us, who no less
Threatens than our expulsion down to Hell.
I, as I undertook, and with the vote
Consenting in full frequence was impowered,
Have found him, viewed him, tasted him; but find
Far other labour to be undergone
Than when I dealt with Adam, first of men,
Though Adam by his wife's allurement fell,
However to this Man inferior far—
If he be Man by mother's side, at least
With more than human gifts from Heaven adorned,
Perfections absolute, graces divine,
And amplitude of mind to greatest deeds.
Therefore I am returned, lest confidence
Of my success with Eve in Paradise
Deceive ye to persuasion over-sure
Of like succeeding here. I summon all
Rather to be in readiness with hand
Or counsel to assist, lest I, who erst
Thought none my equal, now be overmatched."
So spake the old Serpent, doubting, and from all
With clamour was assured their utmost aid
At his command; when from amidst them rose
Belial, the dissolutest Spirit that fell,
The sensualest, and, after Asmodai,
The fleshliest Incubus, and thus advised:—
"Set women in his eye and in his walk,
Among daughters of men the fairest found.
Many are in each region passing fair
As the noon sky, more like to goddesses
Than mortal creatures, graceful and discreet,
Expert in amorous arts, enchanting tongues
Persuasive, virgin majesty with mild
And sweet allayed, yet terrible to approach,
Skilled to retire, and in retiring draw
Hearts after them tangled in amorous nets.
Such object hath the power to soften and tame
Severest temper, smooth the rugged'st brow,
Enerve, and with voluptuous hope dissolve,
Draw out with credulous desire, and lead
At will the manliest, resolutest breast,
As the magnetic hardest iron draws.
Women, when nothing else, beguiled the heart
Of wisest Solomon, and made him build,
And made him bow, to the gods of his wives."
To whom quick answer Satan thus returned:—
"Belial, in much uneven scale thou weigh'st
All others by thyself. Because of old
Thou thyself doat'st on womankind, admiring
Their shape, their colour, and attractive grace,
None are, thou think'st, but taken with such toys.
Before the Flood, thou, with thy lusty crew,
False titled Sons of God, roaming the Earth,
Cast wanton eyes on the daughters of men,
And coupled with them, and begot a race.
Have we not seen, or by relation heard,
In courts and regal chambers how thou lurk'st,
In wood or grove, by mossy fountain-side,
In valley or green meadow, to waylay
Some beauty rare, Calisto, Clymene,
Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa,
Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more
Too long—then lay'st thy scapes on names adored,
Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, or Pan,
Satyr, or Faun, or Silvan? But these haunts
Delight not all. Among the sons of men
How many have with a smile made small account
Of beauty and her lures, easily scorned
All her assaults, on worthier things intent!
Remember that Pellean conqueror,
A youth, how all the beauties of the East
He slightly viewed, and slightly overpassed;
How he surnamed of Africa dismissed,
In his prime youth, the fair Iberian maid.
For Solomon, he lived at ease, and, full
Of honour, wealth, high fare, aimed not beyond
Higher design than to enjoy his state;
Thence to the bait of women lay exposed.
But he whom we attempt is wiser far
Than Solomon, of more exalted mind,
Made and set wholly on the accomplishment
Of greatest things. What woman will you find,
Though of this age the wonder and the fame,
On whom his leisure will voutsafe an eye
Of fond desire? Or should she, confident,
As sitting queen adored on Beauty's throne,
Descend with all her winning charms begirt
To enamour, as the zone of Venus once
Wrought that effect on Jove (so fables tell),
How would one look from his majestic brow,
Seated as on the top of Virtue's hill,
Discountenance her despised, and put to rout
All her array, her female pride deject,
Or turn to reverent awe! For Beauty stands
In the admiration only of weak minds
Led captive; cease to admire, and all her plumes
Fall flat, and shrink into a trivial toy,
At every sudden slighting quite abashed.
Therefore with manlier objects we must try
His constancy—with such as have more shew
Of worth, of honour, glory, and popular praise
(Rocks whereon greatest men have oftest wrecked);
Or that which only seems to satisfy
Lawful desires of nature, not beyond.
And now I know he hungers, where no food
Is to be found, in the wide Wilderness:
The rest commit to me; I shall let pass
No advantage, and his strength as oft assay."
He ceased, and heard their grant in loud acclaim;
Then forthwith to him takes a chosen band
Of Spirits likest to himself in guile,
To be at hand and at his beck appear,
If cause were to unfold some active scene
Of various persons, each to know his part;
Then to the desert takes with these his flight,
Where still, from shade to shade, the Son of God,
After forty days' fasting, had remained,
Now hungering first, and to himself thus said:—
"Where will this end? Four times ten days I have passed
Wandering this woody maze, and human food
Nor tasted, nor had appetite. That fast
To virtue I impute not, or count part
Of what I suffer here. If nature need not,
Or God support nature without repast,
Though needing, what praise is it to endure?
But now I feel I hunger; which declares
Nature hath need of what she asks. Yet God
Can satisfy that need some other way,
Though hunger still remain. So it remain
Without this body's wasting, I content me,
And from the sting of famine fear no harm;
Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts, that feed
Me hungering more to do my Father's will."
It was the hour of night, when thus the Son
Communed in silent walk, then laid him down
Under the hospitable covert nigh
Of trees thick interwoven. There he slept,
And dreamed, as appetite is wont to dream,
Of meats and drinks, nature's refreshment sweet.
Him thought he by the brook of Cherith stood,
And saw the ravens with their horny beaks
Food to Elijah bringing even and morn—
Though ravenous, taught to abstain from what they brought;
He saw the Prophet also, how he fled
Into the desert, and how there he slept
Under a juniper—then how, awaked,
He found his supper on the coals prepared,
And by the Angel was bid rise and eat,
And eat the second time after repose,
The strength whereof sufficed him forty days:
Sometimes that with Elijah he partook,
Or as a guest with Daniel at his pulse.
Thus wore out night; and now the harald Lark
Left his ground-nest, high towering to descry
The Morn's approach, and greet her with his song.
As lightly from his grassy couch up rose
Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream;
Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting waked.
Up to a hill anon his steps he reared,
From whose high top to ken the prospect round,
If cottage were in view, sheep-cote, or herd;
But cottage, herd, or sheep-cote, none he saw—
Only in a bottom saw a pleasant grove,
With chaunt of tuneful birds resounding loud.
Thither he bent his way, determined there
To rest at noon, and entered soon the shade
High-roofed, and walks beneath, and alleys brown,
That opened in the midst a woody scene;
Nature's own work it seemed (Nature taught Art),
And, to a superstitious eye, the haunt
Of wood-gods and wood-nymphs. He viewed it round;
When suddenly a man before him stood,
Not rustic as before, but seemlier clad,
As one in city or court or palace bred,
And with fair speech these words to him addressed:—
"With granted leave officious I return,
But much more wonder that the Son of God
In this wild solitude so long should bide,
Of all things destitute, and, well I know,
Not without hunger. Others of some note,
As story tells, have trod this wilderness:
The fugitive Bond-woman, with her son,
Outcast Nebaioth, yet found here relief
By a providing Angel; all the race
Of Israel here had famished, had not God
Rained from heaven manna; and that Prophet bold,
Native of Thebez, wandering here, was fed
Twice by a voice inviting him to eat.
Of thee those forty days none hath regard,
Forty and more deserted here indeed."
To whom thus Jesus:—"What conclud'st thou hence?
They all had need; I, as thou seest, have none."
"How hast thou hunger then?" Satan replied.
"Tell me, if food were now before thee set,
Wouldst thou not eat?" "Thereafter as I like
the giver," answered Jesus. "Why should that
Cause thy refusal?" said the subtle Fiend.
"Hast thou not right to all created things?
Owe not all creatures, by just right, to thee
Duty and service, nor to stay till bid,
But tender all their power? Nor mention I
Meats by the law unclean, or offered first
To idols—those young Daniel could refuse;
Nor proffered by an enemy—though who
Would scruple that, with want oppressed? Behold,
Nature ashamed, or, better to express,
Troubled, that thou shouldst hunger, hath purveyed
From all the elements her choicest store,
To treat thee as beseems, and as her Lord
With honour. Only deign to sit and eat."
He spake no dream; for, as his words had end,
Our Saviour, lifting up his eyes, beheld,
In ample space under the broadest shade,
A table richly spread in regal mode,
With dishes piled and meats of noblest sort
And savour—beasts of chase, or fowl of game,
In pastry built, or from the spit, or boiled,
Grisamber-steamed; all fish, from sea or shore,
Freshet or purling brook, of shell or fin,
And exquisitest name, for which was drained
Pontus, and Lucrine bay, and Afric coast.
Alas! how simple, to these cates compared,
Was that crude Apple that diverted Eve!
And at a stately sideboard, by the wine,
That fragrant smell diffused, in order stood
Tall stripling youths rich-clad, of fairer hue
Than Ganymed or Hylas; distant more,
Under the trees now tripped, now solemn stood,
Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades
With fruits and flowers from Amalthea's horn,
And ladies of the Hesperides, that seemed
Fairer than feigned of old, or fabled since
Of faery damsels met in forest wide
By knights of Logres, or of Lyones,
Lancelot, or Pelleas, or Pellenore.
And all the while harmonious airs were heard
Of chiming strings or charming pipes; and winds
Of gentlest gale Arabian odours fanned
From their soft wings, and Flora's earliest smells.
Such was the splendour; and the Tempter now
His invitation earnestly renewed:—
"What doubts the Son of God to sit and eat?
These are not fruits forbidden; no interdict
Defends the touching of these viands pure;
Their taste no knowledge works, at least of evil,
But life preserves, destroys life's enemy,
Hunger, with sweet restorative delight.
All these are Spirits of air, and woods, and springs,
Thy gentle ministers, who come to pay
Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their Lord.
What doubt'st thou, Son of God? Sit down and eat."
To whom thus Jesus temperately replied:—
"Said'st thou not that to all things I had right?
And who withholds my power that right to use?
Shall I receive by gift what of my own,
When and where likes me best, I can command?
I can at will, doubt not, as soon as thou,
Command a table in this wilderness,
And call swift flights of Angels ministrant,
Arrayed in glory, on my cup to attend:
Why shouldst thou, then, obtrude this diligence
In vain, where no acceptance it can find?
And with my hunger what hast thou to do?
Thy pompous delicacies I contemn,
And count thy specious gifts no gifts, but guiles."
To whom thus answered Satan, male-content:—
"That I have also power to give thou seest;
If of that power I bring thee voluntary
What I might have bestowed on whom I pleased,
And rather opportunely in this place
Chose to impart to thy apparent need,
Why shouldst thou not accept it? But I see
What I can do or offer is suspect.
Of these things others quickly will dispose,
Whose pains have earned the far-fet spoil." With that
Both table and provision vanished quite,
With sound of harpies' wings and talons heard;
Only the importune Tempter still remained,
And with these words his temptation pursued:—
"By hunger, that each other creature tames,
Thou art not to be harmed, therefore not moved;
Thy temperance, invincible besides,
For no allurement yields to appetite;
And all thy heart is set on high designs,
High actions. But wherewith to be achieved?
Great acts require great means of enterprise;
Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth,
A carpenter thy father known, thyself
Bred up in poverty and straits at home,
Lost in a desert here and hunger-bit.
Which way, or from what hope, dost thou aspire
To greatness? whence authority deriv'st?
What followers, what retinue canst thou gain,
Or at thy heels the dizzy multitude,
Longer than thou canst feed them on thy cost?
Money brings honour, friends, conquest, and realms.
What raised Antipater the Edomite,
And his son Herod placed on Juda's throne,
Thy throne, but gold, that got him puissant friends?
Therefore, if at great things thou wouldst arrive,
Get riches first, get wealth, and treasure heap—
Not difficult, if thou hearken to me.
Riches are mine, fortune is in my hand;
They whom I favour thrive in wealth amain,
While virtue, valour, wisdom, sit in want."
To whom thus Jesus patiently replied:—
"Yet wealth without these three is impotent
To gain dominion, or to keep it gained—
Witness those ancient empires of the earth,
In highth of all their flowing wealth dissolved;
But men endued with these have oft attained,
In lowest poverty, to highest deeds—
Gideon, and Jephtha, and the shepherd lad
Whose offspring on the throne of Juda sate
So many ages, and shall yet regain
That seat, and reign in Israel without end.
Among the Heathen (for throughout the world
To me is not unknown what hath been done
Worthy of memorial) canst thou not remember
Quintius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus?
For I esteem those names of men so poor,
Who could do mighty things, and could contemn
Riches, though offered from the hand of kings.
And what in me seems wanting but that I
May also in this poverty as soon
Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more?
Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools,
The wise man's cumbrance, if not snare; more apt
To slacken virtue and abate her edge
Than prompt her to do aught may merit praise.
What if with like aversion I reject
Riches and realms! Yet not for that a crown,
Golden in shew, is but a wreath of thorns,
Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights,
To him who wears the regal diadem,
When on his shoulders each man's burden lies;
For therein stands the office of a king,
His honour, virtue, merit, and chief praise,
That for the public all this weight he bears.
Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules
Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king—
Which every wise and virtuous man attains;
And who attains not, ill aspires to rule
Cities of men, or headstrong multitudes,
Subject himself to anarchy within,
Or lawless passions in him, which he serves.
But to guide nations in the way of truth
By saving doctrine, and from error lead
To know, and, knowing, worship God aright,
Is yet more kingly. This attracts the soul,
Governs the inner man, the nobler part;
That other o'er the body only reigns,
And oft by force—which to a generous mind
So reigning can be no sincere delight.
Besides, to give a kingdom hath been thought
Greater and nobler done, and to lay down
Far more magnanimous, than to assume.
Riches are needless, then, both for themselves,
And for thy reason why they should be sought—
To gain a sceptre, oftest better missed."
poem by John Milton
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Related quotes
Bible In Poetry: Gospel Of St. Mark (Chapter 0)
Introduction:
The shortest of the gospels all,
In Testament Anew Bible,
Of Jesus’ miracles, tells well.
Perhaps, the first ever written,
By Jesus’ disciple Mark when
Jesus preached about Heaven.
It starts with Baptist John’s forecast
Of Messiah’s advent (or Christ):
John baptizes the Son of Man,
In river Jordan in his span.
But Jesus came to baptize all
By Holy Spirit, by God’s call.
And Jesus Christ, the ‘Son of Man’,
Is tempted by himself Satan;
Though Jesus Christ is victorious,
Is crucified to death on cross!
‘The Kingdom of Heaven is near;
Repent; have faith; live without fear, ’
Through parables, Jesus teaches,
Of God’s kingdom, He thus preaches.
All afflicted, Jesus heals /cures;
And out from men, demons, He drives;
Makes fishermen, ‘Fishers of men’!
He shows the way for all, Heaven.
In A.D.70, it’s written.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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In Free Choice Is Salvation Given Souls
in free choice is salvation given souls
accept reject appointed angels harvest
fine wheat from waste chaff separated
people name baptized fire Holy Spirit
“I am the one needing to be baptized”
in reply Jesus said to John the Baptist
“Let it be so now; it is proper for us
to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”
John consented; now the wise must
ask why? “Christ was circumcised,
and observed all the other ordinances
of the law of Moses, not with a view
to his own justification; but to fulfill
the dispensation committed to him by
the Lord, the God and Creator of all
things.' Justin Martyr stated declared.
Quotation from Matthew 3: 15 (New International Version, ©2011)
poem by Terence George Craddock
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The Glory of The Lord
The Glory of The Lord came down, in the midst of men, He was found,
When on this darkened earthly sod, men had beheld the Glory of God.
John the Baptist prepared the way, for the Glory of Christ on that day,
When upon this earth came the Light, displayed by God in men’s sight.
When Christ, by John, was baptized, He by His Father was recognized,
For that moment His Father seized, to say, in His Son He was pleased.
Then The Spirit in the form of a dove, descended on Christ from above,
Acknowledging Christ for everyone, confirming that Jesus was His Son.
Through The Spirit of The Lord, the Father and Son are of one accord,
Healing and teaching He’d proclaim, all authority in His Father’s Name.
Christ had spoke with such authority, coming from The God of Eternity,
For all Authority was given to Christ; The Son who came to give us life.
Even when Christ Jesus had died, His Father in Heaven was Glorified,
As this earth quaked down below, many hearts of men began to know,
This was The Christ God had sent, as He had the Temple curtain rent.
As one soldier said with a fearful nod, surely this was The Son of God.
Although that day Christ was killed, it was God’s Word that He fulfilled,
Being buried by men close to Him, in a tomb in the midst of men of sin.
But, much to the surprise of men, in three days, Christ had risen again.
He was resurrected just as before; Glorified again was Christ our Lord.
And Jesus again appeared to those, who heard from the grave he rose,
Appearing to men in a body Glorified, Christ who on the cross had died.
After forty days Christ would ascend, to Heaven as risen Savior of men,
And the Heavenly Glory was restored, to Jesus Christ, the Eternal Lord.
John the Baptist was supposed to point the way to the Christ. He was just the voice, not the Messiah. So everybody's calling has dignity to it and God seems to know better than we do what is in us that needs to be called forth.
quote by James Green Somerville
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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High On Jesus
(kinky friedman)
Walking down division street
I happened on to meet
A stranger with a package in his hand.
He said, mister, if you follow me
Rainbow colors you will see,
Ill take your head into the promised land.
friend, I dont need your stuff,
My jesus is enough.
You see them colors bright,
Why cant you see the light ?
Lets get high on jesus, high on jesus,
I believe that he was here in town.
Flying high on jesus, high on jesus,
Im so high Im never coming down.
One man buys a nickel sack,
Another buys a cadillac,
They both think they will drive their cares away.
But neither thinks to lend a hand
To help his struggling fellow man,
Theyd better buy their tickets now for judgment day.
Oh, friend, lets try to score
For peace and not for war,
For love and not for hate
Before it gets too late.
Lets get high on jesus, high on jesus,
Aint you ever heard the nashville sound ?
Flying high on jesus, high on jesus,
I guess, my friend, the lord still gets around.
An angry mob confronted me
By the university,
down with this and down with that they cried.
A burning bottle in his hand,
A long-haired youth screamed, come on, man,
The conscience of america has died!
friend, I dont get my kicks
Starting fires and throwing bricks,
I pray someday you find
The gentle reason im
So high on jesus, high on jesus,
They tried to put his body under ground.
Flashing high on jesus, high on jesus,
But friend, you just cant keep the good man down.
Oh, lets get high on jesus, high on jesus,
They tried to put his body under ground.
Flashing high on jesus, high on jesus,
But friend, you just cant keep the good man down.
song performed by by Kinky Friedman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Get Up John
(bill monroe/marty stuart/jerry sullivan)
Well get up john go down to jordan
Get up john prepare the way
Man from galilee is waiting
You must meet him there today
Get up john go tell my people
This will be a holy day
Tell them of the jew thats waiting
That the saviors on the way
John
Even the children
John
Go unafraid
John
Ill go with you
John the baptist
This is the day
Well get up john go tell jerusalem
Saviors waiting on the shore
Baptize him in the river jordan
Ill send a dove from heavens door
John
Even the children
John
Go unafraid
John
Ill go with you
John the baptist
This is the day
Well get up john your work is finished
Daylight breaks the soldiers come
You will die for me tomorrow
Welcome home your race is run
John
Youve been chosen
John
Go unafraid
John
Ill go with you
John the baptist
This is the day
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. John (Chapter 1)
In the beginning was the word,
And the word was with God,
And the Word was God,
And He was the beginning!
Every thing came to be through Him,
And without Him, nothing did not;
What came to be through Him was life,
And life was light of human race.
The light had shone amidst darkness,
And darkness hasn’t overcome it;
A man named John was sent by God
To bear testimony to light,
So that, through him, all may believe.
He wasn’t the light but came
To only testify to it;
True light enlightening persons
Was in the world which didn’t know him;
His own people didn’t accept him;
To those whoev’r accepted him,
The power to be a child of God
And to believe in his name was given.
All were born but of God alone,
And not through nature or by man;
The word became flesh, dwelt ’mongst us;
Like the Father’s, we saw his son’s
Glory too, full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried,
“This is He of whom I had said,
The one who comes soon after me,
But ranks ahead of me because
He had existed before me.
From his fullness, we all received
Grace after grace through Moses’ law,
While grace and truth came through Jesus;
None has ever seen God,
The son of God alone who was
At his father’s side, revealed him.
This is the testimony of St.John:
The Jews from Jerusalem sent Levites
And priests to John and asked him, “Who are you? ”
He admitted, “I’m not the Messiah.”
So, they asked him again, “Who are you then? ”
“Are you Elijah? ” and he said, “I’m not.”
“Are you the prophet then? ” He answered, “No.”
They queried him, “Just tell us who you are?
Let’s take an answer to those who sent us;
“What do you have to tell about yourself? ”
I am a voice in desert that’s crying,
“You make the way straight for the Lord.”
Some Pharisees then asked him, “Why baptize
If you are not the Messiah or else? ”
John answered them, “I baptize with water;
But there’s amongst you, one whom you know not,
And whom you neither recognize at all;
He is the one who will come after me;
His sandal-strap, I’m unfit to untie.
This happened in Bethany in Jordan.
On seeing Jesus the next day, John said,
“Behold the Lamb of God who washes sins away! ”
He is the one who’s expected to come
Soon after me but ranks ahead,
Because he had existed before me!
I didn’t know him but baptized with water.
So that he may be made to Israel known;
John testified more, “I saw the Spirit
Descend from the sky like a dove on him.
The one who had sent me to earth to preach
Told me, “On whomev’r you see the Spirit
Come down, remain, he is the one
Who will baptize with the Holy Spirit!
I’ve seen and testified that he’s the Son of God! ”
The next day, John was there again
With his two disciples
On seeing Jesus walk near-by, he said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God! ”
The two disciples heard whatev’r he spoke
And they followed Jesus.
Then Jesus turned and asked of them,
“What are you looking for? ”
They said to him, “Rabbi (Teacher) , where do you stay? ”
He said to them, “Come and you’ll see.”
So, they went and saw where he stayed,
And stayed with him that day.
It was four in the afternoon.
Andrew, (Simon Peter’s brother)
Was one of the two who‘d heard John
And too followed Jesus.
He found his brother Simon and told him,
“We’ve found the Messiah (the Anointed) ”.
He brought Simon to Jesus, who told him,
“You’re Simon, son of John.
You will be called Cephas, meaning Peter! ”
The next day, Jesus went to Galilee
And finding Philip, said, “You follow me! ”
Now Philip was from town of Bethsaida.
He found Nathanael and said to him,
“We’ve found the one about whom Moses wrote
In law and prophets also did like-wise:
Jesus, son of Joseph of Nazareth.”
Nathaniel asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?
So, Philip said to him, “Just come and see! ”
On seeing Nathanael come, Jesus said,
“An Israelite true, there’s no duplicate! ”
Nathaniel asked him, “How do you know me? ”
When Jesus answered him, “I saw you ’neath the fig-tree.”
Nathanael said, ” Rabbi, You’re Son of God, King of Israel! ”
But Jesus queried him, “Do you believe
Because I saw you under the fig-tree?
You’ll see much greater things than this.”
He said to him, “amen, I say to you,
You’ll see the sky open, God’s angels come
Ascending, descending on Son of Man! ”
Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-20-2007
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Salvation
how many Jesus's does it take?
rock n roll Jesus, civil rights Jesus,
sexual Jesus, Baptist Jesus,
Pentecostal snake Jesus...
heroin Jesus, small town family Jesus,
necklace Jesus, tattoo Jesus,
illegal immigrant Jesus...
Jesus on the cross in a drunk tank Jesus,
Marlboro Jesus, county fair Jesus,
pray for Armagadden Jesus...
or just a man,
living one day, one moment,
one bare naked dirty human need
at a time...
with open hands, open heart,
and open mind!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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John the Baptist, who we are told was related by blood to Jesus, was preaching the impending judgement of God, urging repentance and moral reform, and baptizing in the Jordan River those who responded.
quote by Kenneth Scott Latourette
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Love That Dirty Water! (The Standells)
The eastern world, it is exploding
Violence flarin', bullets loadin'
You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin'
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin'
Eve of Destruction-- Barry McGuire
The Standells sang about the dirty water in the Charles River in Boston
Well I love that dirty water
Oh, Boston you're my home
Oh, you're the number one place
(1966)
(This observation is not about a soulful, cut time, melodious affirmation about the singer's affinity to polluted water in Massachusetts. However, it is about a river who Christians, Jews and Muslims hold very dear in their hearts.)
Well maybe the Jordan River is not a aqueous cemetery
But if you drink the water,
even touch the water- let alone be baptized,
You could be in trouble,
the water is polluted,
That should make you leery
It appears that the population is going up
And the water level is going down,
In that geographical region
Many turds of goats
or donkeys
or humans are washed away by rain
or by flushing*
-eventually ends in Jordan River
Not to mention the pesticides and fertilizer
That should makes you quiver.
St. John, if you were alive today,
Then you would not make it though a year**
Baptizing people in the Jordan River
Instead people being baptized in Jordan River water
They should possibly get baptized in more purer fluid,
poem by Joe Rosochacki
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Baptism Of Terence
baptized by full immersion in water
three times in a tributary of a river
colloquially known as The Waimak
rural countryside of the Canterbury plains
under a blue sky with golden beams of light
shining down mild afternoon sun blesses
slanting through cold flowing water
like a living golden mystic mantel
light shimmers through living water
baptized after a period of 24 hours
fasting neither eating nor drinking
in solitude solo prayer meditating
praying reading any passages
of the Bible I chose preparing
seeing no one sleeping fasting
step into Waimakariri River
river of cold rushing water
braided wide shingle beds
the hand of God is upon the baptized
it is God’s will his people be baptized
chosen accepting Christ are baptized
Jesus Christ by John was baptized
in Aramaic into Messianic Judaism
you into Christian denominations
one sinner former atheist baptized
one raised in Jesus Christ baptized
believe affirm in faith living beliefs
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Mark (Chapter 1)
From Isaiah’s writings:
“Behold God’s messenger!
He comes ahead of you;
He’ll prepare your way! ”
A voice echoes in desert, loud:
“Prepare way for the Lord;
Make straight His paths;
Repent, be forgiven.”
Through Judea, Jerusalem,
The Baptist, John walks;
As people confess sins,
About the Lord, he talks.
And baptizes them all
In river Jordan!
John, clothed in camel’s hair,
With leather-belt in waist,
Feeds on locusts and wild honey.
Proclaiming: “Comes a mightier one
After me, whose sandals’ thongs,
I’m unworthy to stoop, loosen! ”
‘I baptize you with water;
He does by Holy Spirit.’
A Nazarene, of Galilee,
Yet, Jesus got baptized by John.
The Heavens tore open:
The Spirit came dove-like!
A voice said from heaven:
“This is my son in whom
I am well-pleased! ”
Soon, Jesus went to the desert;
For forty days, He lived just there;
And Satan tempted Him!
He lived amidst wild beasts;
But angels ministered to Him!
And after John’s arrest,
Then, Jesus preached God’s gospel,
In all of Galilee:
‘God’s Kingdom is at hand;
Repent, believe His word;
Enter His land.’
To Simon and brother
Andrew, both fishermen:
‘Come after me, He said.
I’ll make you both ‘Fishers of men’! ’
They left their nets and followed Him.
And walking farther on,
Then Jesus came upon,
Zebedee’s sons, James and John,
Mending their nets with zeal;
When Jesus called them both,
They left their father, boat
And followed Him.
Then Jesus came to Capernaum,
Entered the synagogue,
On Sabbath-day!
With great authority, He taught;
Astonished, people stayed.
Came, a man with unclean spirits
That said:
‘O Holy One, Destroy us not! ’
When Jesus rebuked the spirit;
The man convulsed and cried,
Out came, the evil spirit!
While people murmured:
‘He commands unclean spirits too,
They obey unto Him.’
Across all Galilee,
His fame thus spread.
And Jesus entered Simon’s house;
His mother-in-law was febrile;
He grasped her hand and helped her up;
The fever left at once.
When evening came, they brought to Him,
The ill and demonized;
He cured the sick off illnesses,
And drove the demons out;
He left by early dawn,
A desert place to pray;
Then Jesus went to places near,
Most villages to preach.
A Leper knelt and begged of Him:
‘If you so wish, I will be clean.’
With pity, Jesus stretched His hand
Over his head and said, “Be clean”
At once, the leprosy left him!
Jesus warned him sternly:
‘Don’t tell anyone anything;
Go show the priest and
Offer as Moses said,
As proof of turning clean.’
The man told many people;
So, Jesus stayed in lonely spots;
Yet, people flocked from everywhere.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Pontius Pilate Said
Pontius Pilate was Prefect of Judea
the Roman governor of Judea
during the reign of Tiberius Caesar.
Luke said at Luke 3: 1 “In the fifteenth
year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea
and Herod was district ruler of Galilee...”
That John the Baptist gave answer
that he was not the Christ declaring
as recorded at Luke 3: 16 “John gave
the answer, saying to all: “I, for my
part, baptize YOU with water; but
the one stronger than I am is coming,
the lace of whose sandals I am not fit
to untie. He will baptize you people
with holy spirit and fire.” Amen Lord!
Luke faithfully records at Luke 3: 21-22
by what authority Jesus the Messiah would
come writing “Now when all the people were
baptized, Jesus also was baptized and, as he
was praying, the heaven was opened up and the
holy spirit in bodily shape like a dove came down
upon him, and a voice came out of heaven; “You
are my son, the beloved; I have approved you.””
Years later just before Calvary, in Latin calvaria
“skull” translated from Aramaic Golgotha, John
faithfully records at John 18: 37 “Therefore Pilate
said to him: “Well, then, are you a king? ” Jesus
answered: “You yourself are saying that I am a king.
For this I have been born, and for this I have come
into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.
Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.”””
And Pontius “Pilate said to him: “What is truth? ”
Now do not be mislead Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
Any official professional master, in the art of appeasement,
who plays the game of massive truth manipulation, in
self serving advancement, knows ‘the truth is never the truth.’
All politicians and government officials know play the game that
‘the truth is never the truth’ truth is what people wish to believe!
Therefore believe and support your politicians and governments
only in that which you know to be right or at your personal peril!
Romans 13: 7 declares “Render to all their dues, to him
who [calls for] the tax, the tax; to him who [calls for] the
tribute, the tribute; to him who [calls for] the fear, such
fear; to him who [calls for] the honour, such honour.”
Remember to apply the wisdom and discernment
of Christ when spies were sent against him as it is
written at Luke 20: 20 “And, after observing him
closely, they sent out men secretly hired to pretend
that they were righteous, in order that they might
catch him in speech, so as to turn him over to the
government and to the authority of the governor.”
Remember apply this question answer in your life.
Luke faithfully records at Luke 20: 22-25 “Is it lawful
for us to pay tax to Caesar or not? But he detected
their cunning and said to them: “Show me a denarius.
Whose image and inscription does it have? ” They said:
“Caesar’s.” He said to them: “By all means, then, pay
back Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.”
And when a time of reckoning comes, and you must choose,
between the two, will it be government or righteous followed?
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Jordan
(fred rich)
Come in as you tread lifes journey
Take jesus as your daily guide
Though you may feel pure and safely
Without him walking by your side
But when you come to make the crossing
At the ending of your pilgrims way
If you ever will meet our savior
Youll surely meet him on that day
Now look at that cold jordan
Look at these deep waters
Look at that wide river
Oh hear the mighty billows roar
Youd better take jesus with you
Hes a true companion
For Im sure without him
That you never will make it oer
That awful day of judgment
Is coming in the by and by
Well se our lord descending
In glory from on high
So let us keep in touch with jesus
And in his grace the love of god
That we may be ever called ready
When he calls us over jordans tide
Now look at that cold jordan
Look at these deep waters
Look at that wide river
Oh hear the mighty billows roar
Youd better take jesus with you
Hes a true companion
For Im sure without him
That you never will make it oer
Oh what, what you gonna do
Oh what, what you gonna do
Oh how, how you gonna feel
When you come to the end of the way
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Jesus Christ: A Philosophy Of Enlightenment
Jesus Of Nazareth lead no armies in conquest
slaughtered no enemies with blood red hands
conquered no border sovereign nations in wars
declared my kingdom is no part of this world
Jesus Christ raised the dead cast out demons
healed the blind preformed many miracles
awaited birth ministry death and resurrection
Who is this Jewish Yeshua the famous Jesus Christ?
Is Jesus Of Nazareth the promised Messiah of Israel?
Is Jesus Christ the Son of God as his disciples claimed?
Did the word become flesh incarnate die for our sins?
After approximately two thousand years still worshipped?
Was Jesus God willingly born manifest in human form?
How can one God be a Holy Trinity three unique persons?
Were multiple messianic prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ?
If Jesus is God why would he willingly die a horrible death?
If Jesus died on a criminal cross then how was he resurrected?
Is Jesus the only king who will rule his kingdom for eternity?
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Matthew (Chapter 16)
The Pharisees and Sadducees
To Jesus came, to test and asked,
‘Do show us a heavenly sign.’
He replied, ‘If evening sky’s red,
Tomorrow will be fair, you say.
If morning sky be red, today
Will be rather a stormy day.’
You know to judge the sky’s patterns,
Yet, cannot judge the signs of times.’
For a generation evil,
And unfaithful one, no sign will
Be given, except Jonah’s sign.
Then, He left them and went away..
On the other side of the sea,
They found that they had not brought bread.
And Jesus said, ‘Look out, beware
Of the leaven of Pharisees.’
His disciples thought, Jesus said
Because they had no bread with them.
Then Jesus said, ‘you faithless ones,
Why did you draw such conclusion? ’
‘Didn’t you remember the five loaves
That fed five thousand and more ones?
Didn’t you remember the seven,
That fed four thousand and more ones?
How many loaves remained also!
How is that you don’t comprehend?
The leaven of the bread had meant
The teachings of the Pharisees! ’
In Caesarea Philippi,
He asked, ‘what do people say I’m? ’
They said, ‘Some say, John, the Baptist,
Others, Jeremiah, prophets! ’
He then asked, ‘What do you say I’m? ’
Then Peter said, ‘You’re Messiah,
Son of the Living God, that’s One.’
And Jesus then said, ‘Blessed are you
O Simon Peter, Jonah’s son.
For, flesh and blood didn’t reveal this,
But my heavenly Father just.’
And so I say to you Peter,
‘Upon this rock, I’ll build my church..
The nether gates shall not prevail.
I’ll give the Kingdom’s keys to you.
Whatev’r you bind on earth shall be
Bound also in heaven likewise;
What you loosen on earth shall be
Loosened in heaven, similarly! ’
He ordered them not to reveal
That He was truly Messiah! ’
Then Jesus told his disciples
He must go to Jerusalem,
And suffer greatly from elders,
Chief priests and scribes, and be killed then,
And to become raised on third day!
Then Peter taking him aside
Said, ‘God forbid Lord, let nothing
Like that ever happen to you! ’
But Jesus said to Peter then,
‘Just get behind me, Satan, you,
You’re an obstacle to me too!
You are not thinking as God does.
You think as human beings do.’
Then Jesus said, ‘Whoever wants
To follow me must deny things
Take up his cross and come after.
For, he who saves his life shall lose,
Who loses life for my sake, lives! ’
‘What profits one to gain the world
But just forfeit his life on earth?
What can one’s life be exchanged for? ’
‘Amen I say, some of you here,
Will not taste death, until you see
The Son of Man come in glory,
By angels flanked one day, surely! ’
(6-3-2007)
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Baptized
I don't want to look around
And be turned to stone
All my darkest days awoken
I'm looking for a new way
Lead me to a place wide open
I need a love that takes me higher
So high I'm never coming down
I don't want to know emptiness
Take me down to the water
Wanna be baptized in your love
Far away from the loneliness
Take my heart and wash away the fear
Let me be baptized in your love
Everybody's going down
They end up all alone
Far too many words unspoken
I know I gotta be there, I'm ready to be shown
The path of righteousness unbroken
I need a love that takes me higher
So high I'm never coming down
I don't want to know emptiness
Take me down to the water
Wanna be baptized in your love
Far away from the loneliness
Take my heart and wash away the fear
Let me be baptized in your love
I would be a fool to let you go
With you I'm reborn
I'm no longer torn
Yeah
I refuse to lose my heart and soul
I have to be strong
I don't want to know emptiness
Take me down to the water
Wanna be baptized in your love
Far away from the loneliness
Take my heart and wash away the fear
Let me be baptized in your love
song performed by by Lenny Kravitz
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Matthew (Chapter 11)
When Jesus had given commands to each,
He went away to towns to preach and teach.
When of his works, then John from prison heard,
He sent his disciples to Him and asked,
‘Are you the one to come or Messiah
Or should we be in search for another? ’
Jesus said, ‘Tell John, what you hear and see.
The lame can walk, the blind again can see;
The deaf can hear, lepers are cleansed truly;
The dead arise alive, the poor have peace;
Proclaimed is Good News to them poor with ease.
Blessed’s the one who takes no offence at me.’
Then Jesus told the crowds about John’s deeds:
‘In desert, simply dressed, on locusts feeds
A man called John, more than a prophet stayed,
To tell about God’s kingdom, God had made.’
‘This is the one about whom it is writ:
‘Behold, I send my messenger ahead,
He will prepare the way for you, unread.’
‘Amen, I say to you, of women born,
None can be greater than the Baptist, John.
The least in heave’n is greater than him John! ’
‘Violent are the days from John till now;
But, this has been prophesied from above;
He is Elijah, who’s one yet to come;
Whoev’r has ears to hear are most welcome.’
‘How can this generation be compared?
Like children in market-places who aired:
We played the flute but you did never dance;
We sang a dirge, but you ne’er mourned by chance;
Though John came neither to eat nor to drink,
They said he’s demonized with devil’s link’
About the Son of Man, they said, ‘O look,
A glutton, drunkard, friend of sinners, spook.
But wisdom vindicates all that they did.’
Then Jesus reproached towns which didn’t repent,
Although his great signs were done as He went.
‘O woe to Bethsaida and Chorazin,
Where mighty deeds were done, yet live in sin!
Had they been done in Sidon and Tyre,
They would’ve long back repented to admire.’
‘Will Capernaum be exalted to heav’n?
You’ll go down to the nether world, I say;
If mighty deeds done in your ’midst had been
In Sodom done, it would have still remained;
‘’Twill be more tolerable for Sodom,
On the Day of Judgment than for you all.’
So, Jesus said in reply, ‘Father Lord,
Of earth, heaven, although you’ve hid these things
From the wise and learned people of the world,
Yet, you’ve revealed them to the child-like ones!
For, such has been your gracious will, Father;
To me, from you, all things were handed o’er.’
‘And no one knows the Son, except Father,
And no one knows the Father except Son,
And ones to whom Son wishes to reveal.’
‘All over-burdened ones and who labor,
Then come to me, I’ll give rest that world can’t.
By taking my yoke on you, learn from me;
For, I am meek and humble of all hearts,
And you will find the rest for selves truly,
As light’s my burden and my yoke easy.’
Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-31-2007
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Divine Authority For The Ministry Of Christ
inspiration of an inspired moment
counted in sunlight grains of sand
inspiration in split instant moment
pierces third eye in beams of light
pierces blue sky in genius of ages
shines on set sun dial of creativity
butterfly metamorphosis a nativity
starlight birth witnessed by angels
upon wings of prayers descendant
upon answered prayers generations
awaited generations to thrill delight
where are words to praise this night
to describe a miracle born birth light
angelic voices in symphony myriads
sing praise God's gift this holy night
God so loved the world in blessings
ransom of love was freely bestowed
wages of sin conquered by a perfect
soul given in love all heard the word
gospels writ inspired in Holy Spirit
would across the earth spread light
preached to an entire world in light
lost restored in a single Holy Night
any may embrace blessed divine light
in free choice is salvation given souls
accept reject appointed angels harvest
fine wheat from waste chaff separated
people name baptized fire Holy Spirit
'I am the one needing to be baptized'
in reply Jesus said to John the Baptist
'Let it be so now; it is proper for us
to do this to fulfill all righteousness.'
John consented; now the wise must
ask why? 'Christ was circumcised,
and observed all the other ordinances
of the law of Moses, not with a view
to his own justification; but to fulfill
the dispensation committed to him by
the Lord, the God and Creator of all
things.' Justin Martyr stated declared.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Do You Know the Son?
Do you know the Son, the one the Father gave?
Do you know the Son, who can save you from the grave?
The one who's got the crown from the Father up above?
The Word becoming flesh, to show the Father's love?
The Logos who came to Earth and was born but not by man
But by the Holy Spirit sent down by God's own hand.
The Son born in Bethlehem of Judea on that night;
The Son who is the one, whom in John is called the Light.
Yes, He's called the Light, and that's very true
For He came to light the way for men like me and you.
He is also called the Word, and if you did not know
He is the One who made all things so very long ago.
His name is Yeshua, the Christ, and now I'm telling you
Just what it was that God sent Him into the world to do.
God sent His Son to tell us about ourselves you see -
And how that if we did not change, we would end in misery.
He also showed us how to live and to make it ample;
He lived a life without sin; what a great example.
Now Yeshua is the Son of God and on this Earth he dwelt
'til the age of thirty three and, then the pain He felt.
Men on earth did not care about what He had to say;
All they thought of was themselves, so carted Him away.
And on the hill called Calvary, to a stake these men had made
They nailed my Saviour Yeshua the messuah, and there my debt He paid.
And as the blood poured forth from His hands, feet and side
If I then had been there like now I would have cried;
'cause of something else He had also come to say
Which was this that 'By His death He would take my sin away'
So, if you would believe that Yeshua died for you
Then you will also know your sins are forgiven too;
Do you know the Son, the one the Father gave?
The One called Yeshua, the Messiah, who died for you to save?
1 John 5: 20
It is to be noted that the Lord is not the eternal Son of God, but the Son of the eternal God; for there was no Son until he was born of Miriam, and born again at his resurrection, where it was declared to him by his Father, 'You are my Son, this day have I begotten you' this 'begotten' is reference to his resurrection, for he is the 'FIRSTBORN of many brethern' and 'we' at his coming. For we have been born again unto a living hope, that living hope is our LORD YESHUA/JESUS; for as he was raised to life. So too shall we be so raised if we press forward to the prize of the upward call in Messiah Yeshua our Lord, amen.
poem by Richard Merrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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