REJECTION OF THE KING

                                  Matthew 14-15

THE SIGNS OF REJECTION BEGIN TO APPEAR

WITH THE MURDER OF JOHN, THIS FACT BECOMES CLEAR

THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL IS NOW SET ASIDE

THE DRUMBEAT OF DEATH BECOMES HARDER TO HIDE.

JESUS CONTINUED TO TEACH AND TO HEAL

THOSE WHO BY FAITH SOUGHT TO FOLLOW HIS WILL

WHEN FIVE THOUSAND ATE WITH THE LUNCH OF A BOY

EACH FAMILY WENT HOME, IN AWE, FULL OF JOY.

THAT NIGHT HIS DISCIPLES WERE CAUGHT IN A STORM

THE GALILEE WAVES LEFT THEM FEARFUL AND WORN

JESUS WALKED TO THEM WHEN HE SAW THEM FROM SHORE

HE SPOKE TO THE WINDS AND THE WAVES CHURNED NO MORE.

AS SOON AS THEY REACHED THE GENNESARET TOWN

THE NEWS OF HIS COMING WAS SPREAD ALL AROUND

THE SICK AND THE DYING WERE HEALED BY HIS WORD

AND MANY THAT DAY PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE LORD.

BUT CONFLICT BEGAN TO INCREASE EVERY DAY

BETWEEN WHAT THE LORD AND THE RABBI'S WOULD SAY

RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS WERE ONLY FOR SHOW

GOD'S LAW WAS INTENDED FOR PEOPLE TO GROW.

SO WHEN THEY ACCUSED HIS DISCIPLES OF SIN

JESUS REVEALED HYPOCRISY WITHIN

IT'S NOT WHAT GOES IN THAT DEFILES ONE'S LIFE

FOR OUT OF THE HEART FLOWS ALL EVIL AND STRIFE..

JESUS THEN WALKED TOWARD PHENECIA ONE DAY

WHERE CITIES LIKE SIDON AND TYRE ONCE LAY

A CANAANITE WOMAN OF GENTILE BIRTH

PLED THAT HER DAUGHTER BE FREED FROM HER CURSE.

DEMON POSSESSION ENSLAVED HER THROUGH LIFE

JEWS CALLED THEM “DOGS” WITH A CERTAIN DELIGHT

WHEN JESUS THEN TALKED ABOUT CRUMBS OFF THE FLOOR

SHE ASKED FOR ONE CRUMB THAT WOULD FREE HER ONCE MORE.

AFTER THIS MIRACLE JESUS PERFORMED

OTHERS WHO FOLLOWED WERE LIKEWISE TRANSFORMED

LATER FOUR THOUSAND WERE FED BY THE LORD

AMONG THEM WERE GENTILES RECEIVING HIS WORD.

--B. Pent

PARABLES OF THE KING

              

                          Matthew 13

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN PROCLAIMED AS “AT HAND”

DESIGNED FOR MESSIAH TO RULE FROM THE LAND
WAS STERNLY REJECTED BY RULERS AND PRIEST
ACCUSING THE KING GETTING POWER FROM THE BEAST.

SO MATTHEW BEGINS TO DESCRIBE THE NEW WAY
THE KINGDOM WILL FUNCTION WHILE HE'S GONE AWAY
THROUGH STORIES, HE TELLS OF A MYSTERY ONCE HID
SO THOSE IN HIS ABSENCE COULD SERVE AS HE BIDS.

THE FIRST OF THESE PARABLES JESUS EXPLAINS
TELLS OF A FARMER WHO PLANTED HIS GRAIN
SOME FELL NEAR ROCKS AND ON PATHS HARD AS CLAY
WHILE OTHERS NEAR THORNS COULD NOT LIVE FOR A DAY.

SOMETIMES THE SEED OF THE WORD THAT IS SOWN
FALLS UPON HEARTS THAT ARE HARDER THAN STONE
SOME PLANTS ARE CHOKED BY THE CARES OF THIS LIFE
STRIVING FOR RICHES WHILE LIVING IN STRIFE.

YET SOME OF THE SEEDS FELL ON SOIL PREPARED
YIELDING A HARVEST OF FRUIT TO BE SHARED
SO IS THE ONE THAT YIELDS ALL TO HIS WILL
LIFE IN ABUNDANCE IS FOUND IN HIM STILL.

THE STORY OF WHEAT THAT IS PLANTED WITH TARES
IS GIVEN AS WARNING TO ALL WHO WOULD SHARE
THE SEED OF THE GOSPEL WHERE CHRIST IS RECEIVED
WILL BLOSSOM AND PROSPER FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE.

CHRIST IS THE SOWER WHO PLANTS IN EARTH'S SOD
THE GOOD SEED ARE SONS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
BAD SEEDS ARE THOSE FROM THE KINGDOM BELOW
WHERE SATAN PLANTS WEEDS DESTROYING THE SOUL.

THE HARVEST WILL END AT HIS COMING AGAIN
AND ANGELS WILL GATHER THOSE CALLED BY HIS NAME
THE WHEAT PICTURES THOSE WHO WILL SERVE WITH THE KING
WHILE WEEDS ARE UNGODLY WHO DIE IN THEIR SIN.

THE MUSTERD SEED PLANTED THAT GROWS LIKE A TREE
WITH NESTING BIRDS LIVING WHERE OTHERS CAN SEE
IS GIVEN AS WARNING THAT EVIL LURKS NEAR
WHEN DOCTRINES OF DEMONS ARE TAUGHT WITHOUT FEAR.

THE LITTLE YEAST ADDED TO EACH LOAF OF BREAD
IS PICTURED IN SCRIPTURE AS EVIL INSTEAD
RELIGIOUS CONVICTION ONCE BASED ON GOD'S WORD
IS OFTEN REPLACED BY THE GODS OF THIS WORLD.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN LIKE TREASURES OF GOLD
IS WRAPPED UP IN MYSTERY THOUGH SCRIPTURE FORETOLD
THAT HE WHO ONCE PURCHACED THE FIELD BY HIS NAME
VOWED ISRAEL, HIS TREASURE, WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN.

A MERCHANT THEN LOOKED FOR A PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
HE SOLD ALL HE HAD AT A GREAT SACRIFICE
THE PEARL IS THE CHURCH THAT IS BORN FROM THE SEA
AS PROOF TO ALL MEN HIS DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN DESCRIBED AS A NET
WITH GOOD FISH AND BAD FISH TOGETHER ARE MET
THE GOSPEL PROCLAIMED TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
WILL HARVEST MEN CHOSEN THROUGH SPIRITUAL BIRTH.

THE GREAT TRIBULATION OF JUDGMENT WILL END
AS THE KING IN A WHITE HORSE BEGINS TO DESCEND
THE GOOD FISH ARE MEN WHO WILL JOIN IN HIS REIGN
AND THE ANGELS WILL BANISH ALL EVIL AS VAIN.

OPPOSITION OF THE KING - part 2

 
                         Matthew 12

EVIL FORCES BEGIN TO ESCALATE
AS SCRIBES AND PHARISEES COLLABORATE
IN OPPOSITION TO THE ONE BORN KING
THE PROMISED RULER OVER EVERYTHING.

THE LEADERS HAD WRITTEN THIRTY NINE RULES
AGAINST SABBATH WORK FOR ALL OF THE JEWS
PLUCKING OFF CORN WAS LIKE REAPING THE GRAIN
WITH WARNING OF DEATH MADE PERFECTLY PLAIN.

THE TRAP WAS SET FOR THE KING AND HIS MEN
THIS TIME AROUND THEY WOULD FAIL TO DEFEND
WHILE EATING SOME GRAIN ON A SABBATH DAY
THEY WANTED TO HEAR WHAT THE KING WOULD SAY?

THREE CLEAR EXAMPLES WERE USED IN REPLY
DAVID WAS HUNGRY AND THOUGHT HE WOULD DIE
THE PRIEST GAVE HIM SHEWBREAD, UNHEARD OF, THEY SAY
YET NO CONDEMNATION WAS WRITTEN THAT DAY.

PRIESTS IN THE TEMPLE WORKED HARD AT THEIR TASK
WITH OFFERINGS AND RITUALS PERFORMED WHEN ASKED
YET BLAMELESS THEY STOOD IN THE SERVICE OF GOD
WHILE BREAKING THAT LAW WITH A PHARISEE'S NOD.

THEIR FURY INCREASED WHEN THEY HEARD HIM PROCLAIM
"I AM THE LORD!  THE 'I AM' IS MY NAME!"
IN ANGER THESE RULERS WITHDREW FOR A TIME
DETERMINED TO CRUSH HIM LIKE GRAPES FROM A VINE.

LATER A MAN WITH PARALYSIS CAME
GIVING THE LEADERS A CHANCE TO FIND BLAME
JESUS GAVE ORDERS TO STRETCH FORTH HIS HAND
FURTHER INSIGHTING THE WRATH FROM THEIR CLAN

MULTITUTES CAME TO BE HEALED BY THE LORD
FINDING RELASE THROUGH THE POWER OF HIS WORD
"IS HE THE ONE?" THEY BEGAN TO EXCLAIM
"BLESST SON OF DAVID, THE SCRIPTURES PROCLAIM?"

A DEMON POSSESSED, BLIND MUTE WAS THEN HEALED
PROVING AGAIN THAT THEIR HEARTS WERE STILL SEARED
ATTRIBUTING HEALINGS TO EXORCISE
AS COMING FROM SATAN'S OWN ENTERPRIZE.

SO JESUS WARNED AGAINST THIS KIND OF BLAME
OF CASTING OUT DEMONS THROUGH SATAN'S NAME
THIS BLASPHEMY AGAINST GOD'S HOLINESS
IS UNFORGIVEN FOR ITS GODLESSNESS.

THE PHARISEES ASKED HIM FOR ONE MORE SIGN
AS PROOF HE WAS TRULY GOD'S CHOSEN DESIGN
BUT JONAH, THREE DAYS WITHIN A LARGE FISH
WAS THE SIGN HE WOULD DIE FULFILLING GOD'S WISH.

WHEN JESUS' FAMILY STOOD OUTSIDE THE DOOR
WANTING TO TALK AND SEE HIM ONCE MORE
JESUS MADE CLEAR THAT HIS FAMILY WERE THOSE
FAITHFUL DISCIPLES HE CAREFULLY CHOSE.
--B. Pent

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

HERALDS OF THE KING

                     
                                  Matthew 10

TWELVE CHOSEN MEN WHERE CALLED TO SERVE THE KING
THEY LEFT THEIR WORK AND HOMES TO FOLLOW HIM
A SOLEMN CHARGE WAS GIVEN THEM TO KEEP
IT WAS A SPECIAL CALL TO HIS LOST SHEEP.

THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS WAS BROUGHT NEAR
ITS MESSAGE WAS FOR ISRAEL NOT TO FEAR
THROUGH HEALING SIGNS AND WONDERS ON DISPLAY
HIS NATION COULD BE BORN ANEW THAT DAY.

THROUGH EVERY TOWN THEY TRAVELED TWO BY TWO
THEIR HEALING MISSION WAS TO REACH THE JEW
THEY HAD NO SWORD OR PURSE TO TAKE ALONG
THEIR FAITH AND TRUST WAS IN THE LORD ALONE.

YET THOSE WHO HEARD HAD HEARTS AS HARD AS STONE
REJECTING CHRIST THE ONE WHO COULD ATONE
SO MATTHEW TELLS US WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
WHEN TO THE WORLD HIS LIVING WORD UNFOLDS.

THE SECOND HALF OF CHAPTER TEN MAKES CLEAR
THAT ALL HIS SERVANTS WOULD BE TESTED HERE
YET WHEN THEY STAND UNFAIRLY TRIED BY ALL
THE SOVEREIGN LORD WILL MAKE THE FINAL CALL.

THROUGHOUT THIS DISPENSATION WE ARE TOLD
TO BE WELL TRAINED SOLDIERS BRAVE AND BOLD
AND EVEN IN THE FACE OF DEATH TO STAND
FOR HE WHO CONQUERED DEATH WILL TAKE OUR HAND.

BETRAYALS AND DECEIT HAVE FILLED OUR EARTH
ONCE LOVING HOMES LOOK LIKE A STILLBORN BIRTH
BUT HISTORY'S FINAL DAYS ARE SOON TO END
AND ON HIS PROMISE ALL HIS SAINTS DEPEND.

THE MASTER CALLS US TO INVEST OUR ALL
THE HARVEST FIELDS ARE RIPE AND WE ARE SMALL
BUT EVERY GIFT INVESTED NOW FOR HIM
WILL HEAR "WELL DONE" FROM CHRIST OUR COMING KING.
--B. Pent

CREDENTIALS OF THE KING - part 2

                Matthew 9

REJECTED BY THE GADARENES
THE LORD RETURNED TO "HIS OWN TOWN!"
CAPERNAUM WAS A COASTAL PORT
WHERE OFTEN JESUS WOULD RESORT.

WHILE TEACHING IN A CROWDED HOME
A PARALYTIC BORNE BY FOUR
WAS BROUGHT TO JESUS TO BE HEALED
WITHOUT THEIR HELP HIS FATE WAS SEALED.

THEY TORE THE ROOF TO LET HIM DOWN
SO WHEN CHRIST SAW THEIR EARNEST FAITH
HE SPOKE THE WORD AND HEALING CAME
FORGIVEN HE ROSE IN YAHWEH'S NAME.

A GRIEVING FATHER THEN APPEARED
AND ASKED THE LORD IF HE WOULD COME
AND TOUCH HIS DAUGHTER'S LIFELESS BROW
SO SHE COULD LIVE AGAIN RIGHT NOW.

ALONG THE PATHWAY TO HIS HOME
A WOMAN WHO FOR TWELVE LONG YEARS
HAD HEMORRHAGED WITH NO DOCTOR'S CURE
WAS THEN AND THERE TOUCHED AND MADE PURE.

WHEN JAIRUS FINALLY GOT HIM HOME
HIS TWELVE YEAR OLD LAY GAUNT AND COLD
AT HIS COMMAND SHE BREATHED NEW AIR
AND ALL REJOICED AND PRAISED GOD THERE.

TWO BLIND MEN LATER CRIED ALOUD
"PLEASE, SON OF DAVID, TOUCH OUR EYES!"
THE MASTER'S TOUCH MADE THEM TO SEE
SO FROM THEIR BLINDNESS THEY WERE FREE.

THEN IN THE VALLEY OF DESPAIR
A DEAF AND DUMB DEMONIAC
WAS HEALED WHEN JESUS CAST IT OUT
AS HE PRAISED GOD WITH ONE LOUD SHOUT.

THE KING HAD SHOWN HIS RIGHT TO RULE
THROUGH SIGNS AND WONDERS ON DISPLAY
BUT ONLY MATTHEW AND A FEW
WOULD FOLLOW CHRIST WITH LIFE ANEW.

THE SHADOW OF A CROSS SOON FORMED
WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST PUT IN JAIL
AND PHARISEES NOW MAKING CLAIM
CHRIST'S SIGNS WERE DONE IN SATAN'S NAME.

A DISPENSATION NEW AND FRESH
AS SEEN IN HIM THE WORD MADE FLESH
FULFILLS THE PROMISE HE FORETOLD
NEW WINE REPLACING WHAT IS OLD.

THE WHITE NEW ROBES THE GOSPEL BRINGS
THAT BIDS US FLY AND GIVES US WINGS
IS GRACE APART FROM WORKS OF LAW
AS GOD'S FREE GIFT TO ONE AND ALL.
--.B. Pent

CREDENTIALS OF THE KING - part 1

                  Matthew 8

TO PROVE HE WAS THE PROMISED KING
AND MASTER OVER EVERYTHING
TEN POWER SIGNS WERE USED TO SHOW
GOD'S CHOICE FOR ISRAEL HERE BELOW.

THE FIRST ENCOUNTER JESUS HAD
WAS WITH A LEPER LONE AND SAD
WHOSE LIFE WAS MARKED BY HOPELESSNESS
UNTILL HE FACED GOD'S HOLINESS.

SO WHEN THIS HEALING POWER TOOK PLACE
ALL THOSE AROUND COULD SEE HIS FACE
AS JESUS TOUCHED HIS ROTTING SKIN
HE WAS MADE WHOLE AND FREED WITHIN.

A ROMAN CAPTAIN THEN APPEARED
ONE HUNDRED SOLDIERS WERE HIS CHARGE
BUT ONE OF HIS MOST TRUSTED MEN
HAD PARALYZING WOUNDS TO MEND.

YET AS THEY STARTED TOWARD HIS HOME
THE CAPTAIN URGED: "JUST SPEAK THE WORD!"
AND THERE IN SIMPLE FAITH HE FOUND
HIS SERVANT HEALED AND WHOLLY SOUND.

THAT NIGHT THEY STAYED AT PETER'S HOUSE
BUT FOUND HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS SICK
THE FEVER LEFT AS ALL COULD SEE
ALONG WITH THOSE POSSESSED SET FREE.

THEN NEXT WE FIND THEM IN A BOAT
WITH JESUS RESTING AT THE STERN
WHEN SUDDENLY A GAIL FORCE WIND
WITH THREATENING WAVES CAME CRASHING IN.

FEAR GRIPPED THE BAND OF MEN THAT CAME
SO WOKE THE MASTER WITHOUT SHAME
WHO STOOD TO CALM THE RAGING SEA
THUS PROVED TO THEM HIS DEITY.

WHEN LANDING AT THE GADARENES
TWO MEN POSSESSED FELL TREMBLING
THEIR VIOLENT ACTIONS COULD NOT TAME
TWO THOUSAND DEMONS WERE TO BLAME.

BEFORE THE MASTER CAST THEM OUT
THEY PLED TO HAVE THEM ENTER SWINE
SO WHEN THEY LEFT, THESE MEN WERE FREE
BUT ALL THE PIGS DROWNED IN THE SEA.

THE CHAPTER LEAVES YOU WITH A CHOICE
TO FOLLOW CHRIST AND HEED HIS VOICE
OR ONLY SEEK TO PAD YOUR NEST
AND FAIL TO CHOOSE GOD'S VERY BEST.
--B. Pent