Father Forgive Them

 

 

“Father, forgive them

For they know not what they do.”

These words were spoken by Jesus

And the ‘them’ were the Jews.

 

He had come to his own

And his own had not received him,

Blinded by their self-righteousness

To them Jesus was the sin.

 

In co with Beelzebub

Was how they saw his works

And throughout his earthly ministry

They treated him like dirt.

 

Herod attempted to kill him

Two years after his birth

And the Jews wanted to stone him,

The Lord of all the earth.

 

They plotted against him

Morning, noon and night

And would not rest, they had decided,

Until he was out of their sight.

 

And when they ran out of ideas

They turned to one of his own,

Judas Iscariot, you would recall

Was right in their zone.

 

A fence-straddler, I’d call him,

Committed only to himself

And scheming so that one day soon

He’d come into wealth.

 

 

You’d recall he carried the bag

And with it he was obsessed

And once, when Jesus was anointed,

He was not impressed.

 

 

He suddenly felt for the poor

And pretended that he cared

But Jesus rebuked him indicating

The poor is always here.

 

Well, for thirty pieces of silver

Jesus Christ was betrayed

But as far as the proceedings went

It did not go all Judas’ way.

 

Jesus was captured

But he did not try to escape

So that Judas’ plan went horribly wrong

After he had taken the bait.

 

We know how that concluded

Regarding the infamous Judas

Who ended up in the potter’s field

On account of his lust.

 

A miscarriage of justice followed

Encouraged by the Jews,

Their leaders wanted Christ crucified,

To them he was bad news.

 

They eventually got their wish

Much against Pilate’s reasoned mind,

Both Pilate and his wife felt

Jesus was not that kind.

 

She said he was innocent

And he said in him was no fault

But in those exacting circumstances

The crucifixion he could not halt.

 

 

He made one final offer:

A criminal named Barabbas

But the people called for the criminal

And crucified Jesus.

 

Crucify him, crucify him, they said,

His blood be on us and our children,

We have no king but Caesar,

To them Jesus was the problem.

 

Like the harlot, Jerusalem was,

She rode on the beast called Rome

Ignorant of the fact that very soon

Jerusalem would not be home.

 

Jesus was aware of her demise

Which he prophesied in Matthew 24,

John in the Revelation confirmed it!

It was even at the door.

 

 

Hence, “Father forgive them,

For they know not what they do.”

For while it was on a Roman cross,

The real culprits were the Jews.

 

Their house was left desolate,

Their blood flowed in the streets,

The temple and Jerusalem were laid waste

And for them the times were bleak.

 

The tribulation was Jacob’s trials

Rachel had wept for her children,

As Jesus had meticulously prophesied

It all happened in Jerusalem.

 

First the Jews were ignorant

Because they knew not redemption’s plan,

Secondly, they were ignorant

Because they knew not the God-man.

 

Thirdly they were ignorant

Because they knew not the future,

The future that was about to unfold

Presenting a horrid picture.

 

 

“Father forgive them

For they know what they do.”

Thus, Jesus ever intercedes in heaven

For his children: me and you.

 

Stewart Russell © April 6, 2023

 

Two Comings

 

 

He hung on the cross

Knowing for this he came,

For you and for me

Glory to his name!

 

“Father forgive them

They know not what they do.”

All part of salvation’s plan

For me and for you.

 

“Truly this was God’s Son,”

The centurion did say

Words that are remembered

Even up to this day.

 

They buried him in a grave

That was not even his own

And there he lay

Having left his throne.

 

He rose triumphantly

The gave couldn’t hold him down,

Death he defeated

He again wears his crown.

 

None saw him rise

But many saw him alive,

Which proves it was nothing

That somebody contrived.

 

 

On the Emmaus road

Two disciples with him walked

And they too were convinced

As they with him talked.

 

Thomas touched his wounds

He required such proof,

And when he did

He confessed the truth.

 

These saw him ascend

And the angels they heard,

“He is coming in like manner.”

Accept their word.

 

He is coming again

For those who are prepared,

We are not sure when

It could be far or near.

 

 

What we do know is

That he came before

And today he is standing

Knocking at someone’s door.

 

Open your heart

And let Jesus come in,

That is the only way

You can be saved from your sin.

 

Believe him in your heart

And confess with your mouth

And like Zacchaeus

 He will come to your house.

 

He will make it his temple

And dwell in you there

And you’ll go to be with him

When he shall appear.

 

Prepare to meet thy God

Amos had declared,

That same calls goes out today

To people everywhere.

 

 

Two comings there must be

One has gone,

The second is on the way

We need to be warned.

 

It may be while we are living

Or sometime after instead

But we cannot make a decision

After we are dead.

 

Whether Jesus comes or calls

You must be prepared,

Let neither of these two

Take you unawares.

 

For this cause he came

To redeem the elect

And he is coming again

Whether or not you expect.

 

He will take to himself

Those that are his own

And there they will worship

Before his throne.

 

Stewart Russell © November 2019

 

A Bad Good Friday

 

 

The first Good Friday was a bad one:

The Lord Jesus was crucified,

For his followers and those he had healed

It was day to be despised.

 

The one upon whom their hope lay

Was suddenly taken away,

Their champion, like none from before,

Was crucified on that day.

 

Crushed were their expectations

And devastated would have been apt,

All that was left to do was run and hide;

All their gains were rolled back.

 

 

Things looked bright and hope was alive;

Their conquerors were held at bay

But the tables were turned unexpectedly,

As in the tomb their champion lay.

 

They gazed from afar afraid to come near;

Fear was then their greatest torment,

Betrayal and denial were in evidence

And Judas did not live to repent.

 

A bad Good Friday is an apt summary

As we looked back on that dreadful scene,

For his disciples, it was a nightmare

But for the Jews, a realistic dream.

 

They had planned with bedevilment

And had yearned for this eventful day:

The day they would see the back of Christ

And under the ground he would lay.

 

 

They rode on the backs of the Romans

Since crucifixion was without their remit,

They were bent on killing the Lord Jesus

But were actually following his script.

 

He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquity,

The chastisement of our peace was on him

And with his stripes we are healed.

 

It was a horrid day to the faithful few,

For the Jews, it was a dream come true,

But to everyone that believes in Jesus,

It is salvation to both Greek and Jew.

 

The first Good Friday was a bad one

But the resurrection removed the bad

So that each born-again believer ever since,

Has had every reason to be glad.

 

Stewart Russell © April 14, 2022

  

Hope or Hoax?

 

 

How confusing it is

To hear a God-believing cleric

Publicly denounce the Bible

And be a vociferous critic!

 

Proclaimed as delusional:

That is, the Word of God,

On the airwaves and television

This was spread abroad.

 

If Christianity is a hoax

Then what does he believe?

What does he really teach

Or coax people to receive?

 

If the first 11 chapters

Of the Holy Bible are mythical

Then please tell me my dear cleric

What in there is believable?

 

If creation falls down,

On what can we rely?

Surely the whole Bible becomes

A colossal lie!

 

 

No Adam and Eve,

No Noah or Abraham,

No Moses and no Exodus

And no redemptive plan.

 

No Christ and no Gospel

No dying or resurrection,

No ascension or coming again

And definitely no salvation!

 

No creation and no Creator

It is all a huge scam!

All this preaching about eternity

And a salvation plan.

 

 

Hope or Hoax?

The latter it must be

When even leading church clerics

Preach such heresy.

 

No wonder the world

Appears “going to the dogs”
For the church the world sees

Denies its very God.

 

This is an indictment

On leaders like the noted cleric

That propagate so-called sermons

That are without merit.

 

 

If the Bible’s first 11 chapters

Are to be considered as mythical,

There’s no hope beyond death

For all of earth’s people.

 

Then nothing is absolute

And a man’s truth is only his own

And this augurs well

Once he stays in his zone.

 

However, such is impossible

For social beings,

They must of necessity interact

As their survival deems.

 

So that all who believe the lie

As propagated by this cleric

Are on their way to hell

For heaven they will forfeit.

 

Anyone who comes to God

Must believe that He exists

And without faith in God’s Word

Eternal life he will miss.

 

For if creation is a tale

Then the whole Bible is a myth

And Christ must be denounced

As being the Father’s Gift.

 

There is no Word of God

And there is no Holy Spirit

And ultimately no eternal hope

As implied by this cleric.

  

What is he really doing then

As he stands in the pulpit

When much of what he preaches

He doesn’t even believe it.

 

Stewart Russell © February 24, 2022

 

A Solemn Saturday

 

It was good while it lasted

But it has now come to an end,

All hope has gone with his defeat

And only gloom descends.

 

It’s a solemn Saturday

None like it before

And while they reminisced

Their pain grew more.

 

 

A solemn Saturday indeed

Never a Sabbath like this!

To whom can they turn

In their moment of anguish?

 

He had submitted so easily

To their perennial enemy,

Now they will be captives forever

With no hope to be free.

 

The Jews had delivered him

To the Romans to be crucified

But that the Romans were the culprits

Was not to be denied.

 

It was a solemn Saturday

But then, all Sabbaths were,

But that this was the most solemn

Nothing could ever deter.

 

They were behind closed doors

Afraid to show their face,

After yesterday’s events,

Of hope there was not a trace.

 

Solemnity reigned supreme

With their hope entombed,

For anything other than dismay

There was no room.

 

Their champion had succumbed

To the Roman scourge

And even to venture out again

There was no urge.

 

A Sabbath with a difference

Truly, a solemn Saturday,

Rabboni lies dead…

There’s none to show the way.

 

Stewart Russell © April 2, 2021

 

The Bible in Poetry: Gethsemane to Calvary

Extracted from the Bible In Poetry

From Genesis to Revelation

Gethsemane to Calvary

In Gethsemane

 

Imploring his disciples to watch, he prayed in Gethsemane,

There he prayed to his Father, “Take this cup from me,”

No doubt the Father was sharing in the anguish of His Son,

“Nevertheless,” He would continue, “Let Thy will be done.”

Then he came to his disciples and found them fast asleep,

They could not watch with him one hour, neither vigil keep;

“Rise and let’s be going,” he said “the hour is now at hand,”

Lurking near was Judas who would betray the Son of man.

The Arrest

Forthwith he came to Jesus with a great multitude in train,

Sent by the priest and elders the plan was now made plain;

At Judas’ kiss the Lord asked my friend why did you come,

Next cruel hands arrested him; they took away God’s Son.

One of them with Jesus had severed the high priest’s ear,

Jesus told him put up his sword restoring the ear with care.

He could pray to the Father for protection if it were his will,

But all this was done that the scriptures might be fulfilled.

Then all the disciples forsook him; all of them had fled,

Even Peter following afar off had forgotten what he said;

The priests sought false witnesses; none they ever found,

But still they trumped up charges even though unsound.

They asked, “Are you the Christ; are you really God’s Son?”

You will see me later said he coming in the clouds of heaven.

The high priest had rent his clothes for he was very angry,

“He has spoken blasphemy,” said he, “Of death he is guilty.”

  Peter’s Denial

As Peter sat in the palace a damsel came to him saying,

“You were with the Galilean; it’s no use your denying.”

When he went into the porch he did meet another there,

Yet he denied the second time; Peter was full of fear.

The third time Peter was accused, curse and swear did he,

On Peter’s third denial the cock had crowed immediately;

“Before the cock crow twice,” Peter remembered instantly,

And as Peter went out of the porch he was weeping bitterly.

Jesus’ Trial

When they had bound Jesus they led him away to Pilate,

When Judas saw him condemn he was in an awful state;

The money he tried to return the priests and elders refused,

So to go and hang himself was the way Judas did choose.

The elders then took counsel; with the money bought a field,

They had taken this decision; together it had been sealed;

Called the potter’s field because it was paid for with blood,

Just thirty pieces of silver was the price at which it stood.

Pilate’s first question to Jesus: “Art thou the king of the Jews?”

Jesus said “Thou sayest” and all the other questions refused.

Then Pilate said to the people, “I find no fault with this man.”

Then sent him off to Herod after he learnt he was a Galilean.

Herod had wanted to see Jesus for quite a long season,

He had heard a lot of him and the miracles he had done;

To the questions Herod asked he answered not a word,

Herod must have wondered at all the things he had heard.

Herod and his men of war had Jesus mocked and ridiculed,

Then he sent him back to Pilate as though he were a fool;

He placed on him a royal robe; no longer would he bother,

Pilate and he at war before now they were mates together.

Pilate then called together all the rulers and the priests,

I find no fault, he said, I’ll flog him and have him released;

But of necessity someone must be freed for the feast,

They cried crucify Jesus so Barabbas’ jail term ceased.

 

But Barabbas was a robber, an unrepentant terrorist,

His release for Jesus was merely a farce of justice;

Pilate heeded the people’s “We have no king but Caesar,”

So he released to them one guilty of sedition and murder.

Pilate was very disturbed by a dream his wife had told,

“He is a just man,” she said, but Pilate had to be bold;

“What must I do with Jesus, he who is called the Christ?”

"Crucify him! Crucify him!" That was their form of justice.

As Caiaphas once reminded, someone must be sacrificed,

Thus just as God would have it Jesus must pay the price;

As they led him out they laid hands on Simon of Cyrene,

Making him carry the cross as support for the Galilean.

  

The Crucifixion

 

Crucified with two thieves, hanging from the middle cross,

God had paid the ransom price for His world that was lost;

Father forgive them he said for they know not what they do,

His death covered our shame, crucified for me and you.

Truly I say to you today you will be with me in paradise,

One malefactor was a beneficiary the other was unwise.

“Woman this is your son,” he said, “Son this is your mother.”

Even from the cross, for his absence, he provided another.

“My God, My God,” he asked, “Why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus experienced this anguish; hell need not be our destiny;

Creator of the rivers and the sea yet he had said, “I thirst.”

Suffering death by crucifixion he as such became a curse.

The greatest words ever heard, “It is finished,” Jesus said,

Some do say the devil laughed now that Jesus was dead;

He would rue this fact for he knew not what lay ahead,

For Jesus soon would rise, leaving the grave clothes in bed. 

  

“Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit,” Jesus shouted,

Here a shout of assurance, to the Father he was committed;

Should have reminded all the rulers and Pilate the Governor,

That laying down his life he takes it up; Jesus is the Creator.

Now when the Roman centurion had seen what was done,

He too would conclude that of a truth this was God’s Son.

But all of Jesus’ acquaintance then followed from afar off,

And the far off women too, they stood beholding the cross.

Stewart Russell © 2013