JESUS HAD FEELINGS LIKE WE DO

In commemoration of the International Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27th, I am sharing one of my poems with you.

The Lord impressed on me that Jesus has feelings like we do, and he had his share of grief, especially when his cousin, John the Baptist, was so horribly murdered. Of course, Jesus bore OUR griefs and carried OUR sorrows, according to the prophet Isaiah, who also said He was a "man of SORROWS, acquainted with GRIEF" (chapter 53).  Jesus was very close to John the Baptist and also to His disciple John. This poem tells the story, from an emotional viewpoint, of Jesus' reaction to the atrocity of his cousin's beheading!

May we Christians who know our Jewish roots in Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, also grieve for the six million Jews who were murdered by Hitler in the Holocaust, some of whom no doubt knew that Yeshua was their Messiah. Remember, Jesus said, "As you have done it (good or bad) unto the least of these MY BRETHREN (Jewish believers), you have done it unto ME" (Matt. 25:40).

JESUS’ GRIEF

[Based on Matthew 3 and 14; John 19:25-27; Book of Revelation]

Jesus had two Johns in His life; the first was John the Baptist,

And we know that they were cousins, as Luke 1:36 has it.

For Mary visited John’s mother to talk of their sons before born,

And John would be six months older than Jesus, his cousin but also his Lord!

The Father called John into ministry to preach to His wicked people.

He lived in the desert and didn’t attend a church like ours with a steeple.

But people came out to the desert to hear the prophet cry, “Turn from sin!”

And one day Jesus came out to be baptized by John, His very own kin.

They shared an awesome moment when God spoke, “This is My beloved Son!”

Then the two went their separate ways, working to see God’s will was done.

Jesus was doing miracles, and John was preaching, “Repent!” to Herod,

For Herod had taken his brother’s wife – to him John was a terror.

He dared not take the life of John, for the people honored this prophet,

But Herodias, Herod’s wife, conceived a plot, and no one would stop it.

When watching Salome dance, Herod promised to give what she asked.

She asked for John’s head on a platter – Herod was trapped in an evil task.

She gave the platter to Herodias, her mother; his disciples buried John’s body,

Then went to tell Jesus of this awful horror! No conscience had the ungodly.

When Jesus heard it, he immediately departed by boat; His grief was heavy.

He wanted to pour out His heart to the Father, for crowds He was not ready.

But they followed Him, seeking His help, so Jesus delayed His time of prayer.

He healed them all and fed them, too, unselfishly showing them care.

He told the disciples to cross over by boat, and He sent the crowd away.

At last He was alone, and now He could go up on the mountain and pray.

A man of sorrows, He had suffered deep hurt and had seen the evil of man,

But hearing of His loved one’s horrible death was hard for Him to stand.

The Father comforted His Son and showed Him John with a golden crown,

The heavenly hosts attending and glory shining all around!

Just as He felt new strength to continue all the way to the cross,

He heard the call of the disciples crying, “Help! Or we are lost!”

Forgetting His weary body, having had no sleep at all,

He made His way to the boat, walking on water and didn’t fall.

His heart was cheered to see Peter, accepting His challenge to come,

Bold in his faith for a moment, but then he took the plunge.

Jesus gently reproved him, and then they got in the boat –

Now He was back with His friends, the ones He loved the most.

The wind died down, and they worshiped, and Jesus’ grief was gone.

The boat docked in Gennesaret, and soon there was a throng.

People had heard of His presence and brought their friends and kin.

They touched the hem of His garment – this was God in human skin!

Yes, He was human, at least for a while, and He sorrowed just as we,

He got so weary He could hardly smile, but He worked to set men free.

His cousin John had baptized Him and heralded His arrival.

The Apostle John who stayed at the cross has prepared us for revival.

So taking a cue from our Lord’s selfless service in the midst of godless rage,

We can be encouraged with His presence now 
and endure to the end of the age.

By Nancy Petrey – November 11, 2016