OPPOSITION OF THE KING - part 1

   
                              Matthew 11

THE CLOUDS OF DARKNESS NOW BEGIN TO FORM
AS OPPOSITION MOVES IN LIKE A STORM
WITH JOHN IN JAIL, THE KING STANDS ALL ALONE
THE OFFERED KINGDOM FALLS ON HEARTS OF STONE.

RULERS SWAYED THE CROWDS BY FLATANT LIES
ACCUSING CHRIST OF BREAKING SABBATH TIES
BUT OUTWARD RULES AND FORMS MEANT MORE TO THEM
THAN LIVES RELECTING HOLINESS WITHIN.

JOHN QUESTIONED WHILE IN HEROD'S PRISON CELL
IF HE WAS KING, THE PROPHETS DID FORETELL
FOR WICKEDNESS STILL TRIUMPHED OVER RIGHT
AND PROMISED JUDGMENT SEEMED SO FAR FROM SIGHT.

WITH HONEST DOUBTS STILL LINGERING IN HIS MID
HE ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER SIGN
THAT POINTED TO MESSIAH'S EARTHLY REIGN
OR WAS HIS WORK AND MESSAGE ALL IN VAIN?

THE ANSWER JESUS GAVE WAS LOUD AND CLEAR
THE BLIND RECEIVED THEIR SIGHT, THE DEAF COULD HEAR
HE HEALED THE SICK AND RAISED THE DEAD TO LIFE
AND GOD'S GOOD NEWS WAS SHARED WITHOUT A PRICE.

WHEN JOHN'S DISCIPLES LEFT TO SHARE THE NEWS
THE LORD ASKED THOSE AROUND ABOUT THEIR VIEWS
WHAT THEY EXPECTED WHEN THE PROPHET SPOKE
WHY THEY DENIED ITS MESSANIC HOPE.

LIKE CHILDREN WHO REFUSED TO PLAY OR DANCE
ALTHOUGH EACH ONE WAS GIVEN ONE MORE CHANCE
THEIR HEARTS REFUSED TO TURN AWAY FROM SIN
REJECTING BOTH THE PROPHET AND THE KING.

WITH BURDENED HEART THE KING DENOUNCED THOSE TOWNS
WHO SAW HIS WORKS BUT TURNED HIS OFFER DOWN
YET IN THE END THE OFFER IS THE SAME
ALL THOSE WHO TRUST FIND PEACE THROUGH JESUS' NAME.
--B. Pent

PREPARATION OF THE KING - part 3

                     Matthew 3-4

THEN SUDDENLY A VOICE WAS HEARD
IT WAS A MESSAGE FROM THE LORD
"REPENT!" WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST'S CRY
"THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD IS NIGH!"

THE CROWDS BEGAN TO FOLLOW HIM
AS THEY REPENTED FOR THEIR SIN
BUT OTHERS MOCKED AND WALKED AWAY
WITH HARDENED HEARTS LIKE DRIED OUT CLAY.

AS JESUS WALKED THE JORDAN SHORE
THE PROPHET SPOKE OF HIM THE MORE:
"BEHOLD THE LAMB FOR SINNER'S SLAIN!"
"HE IS THE ONE FOR WHOM I CAME!"

SO WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED THAT DAY
THE SPIRIT CAME ON HIM TO STAY
AS PROOF HIS MISSION HERE BELOW
WAS MEANT FOR ALL THE WORLD TO KNOW.

THEN FORTY DAYS OF TESTING CAME
AS SATAN TRIED TO BRING HIM SHAME
BUT POWER OVER SIN WAS SHOWN
THAT VICTORY COMES THROUGH CHRIST ALONE!

THOUGH JOHN WAS CRUELLY PUT IN JAIL
HIS MESSAGE DID NOT DIE OR FAIL
FOR CHRIST PROCLAIMED WITH EQUAL ZEAL
"THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD IS NEAR!"

HE THEN CALLED TWELVE TO FOLLOW HIM
TO BEAR THE LOVE OF GOD WITHIN
SO AS HE HEALED ALL THOSE IN NEED
THE WORLD WOULD SEE, TAKE NOTE AND HEED.
--B. Pent