Just Imagine

Cast your mind way back

Maybe about two thousand years or so,

Come with me along that street

And an amazing thing I will show.

I see a crowd in a procession

Walking slowly along the way,

Observe with me their reluctance

And the heat on that dusty day.

The number of the people is hard to tell

But the crowd comprises a mix

Obviously of the old and the young

With a young man taking his final trip.

You are right; it is a funeral procession

And the dead is a man young in age,

The only son of his widowed mum

And many people with her at this stage.

Their grieving is very plain to see

After all the deceased is just a youth,

Whether he died of disease or accident

I have no idea of the truth.

You know how parents love their children

So keep in mind he was the only one,

Then consider the grief of this mother,

With both husband and only son gone.

Appreciate too the crying and wailing

As they make their way to the cemetery,

Consideration is due this bereaved mother

And that only son she would bury.

No son to protect her from the oppressors,

Think of her anxiety and distress,

No family male to come alongside her

As she confronts life with its many tests.

She may have had a daughter,

Maybe one or two or three

But to have lost her only son

Must have been the height of her misery.

  

Were you in the place of this widow

What would you have done

But do just as she is doing

And mourn the lost of your son?

But stretch your imagination for a moment

To the turn of events as they occur

And as you think of this widow’s plight

What would you wish for her?

I see in my astute observation

Another procession approaching,

There is a man of no striking features

With some men and people accompanying.

As he draws near the city gate

He sees the dead being carried out,

I note his demeanour and eyes of compassion

Are unlike those around with clout.

I see his hand extend to the widow

As he says to her, “Weep not.”

And then he walks up and touches the coffin,

Just this gesture would have meant a lot.

But there is more; it’s so unbelievable,

He is speaking to the dead,

“Young man, I say unto thee, Arise,”

Are the words that he actually said.

And he that was dead sat up

And more than that he began to speak

And this man delivered him to his mother

What a wonderful and unexpected treat!

I am sure this exceeded your wishes

As you thought of this widow’s plight,

Only Jesus could have done this

He is the way, the life and light.

Out of the city the procession went

As into the city the Saviour came,

They to bury a widow’s young son

And he to make him live again.

“I am come,” he says to the spiritually dead,

“That they may have life abundantly.”

Thus all who call upon the name of the Lord

Shall be saved eternally.

Think of our young men on the block

Dead in their trespasses and sins,

Just imagine Jesus’ outstretched hand

Inviting them to come to him.

How he wants to raise them up

And give to them eternal life

And bring great joy to a parent’s heart

To whom they have caused much strife!

And not forgetting our young women

Who are following close behind,

Just imagine the turn around

Our country could do with at this time!

Stewart Russell © August 2017