THE CHRISTMAS MYSTERY

A LITLE SEED WAY BACK IN TIME
BEFORE THE WORLD WAS FLUNG IN SPACE
BECAME THE SUBJECT OF GOD'S PLAN
FOR RESCUING THE HUMAN RACE.

OMNISCIENCE SAW THE FALL OF MAN

WITH ALL THE CONSEQUENCE OF SIN
THERE WAS NO HOPE OF ANY KIND
BECAUSE OF DEATH THAT REIGNED WITHIN.

SO GOD DEVISED A METHOD RARE

AND HAD THE PROPHETS WRITE IT DOWN
A VIRGIN WOULD CONCEIVE A CHILD
IN BETHLEHEM'S SMALL JUDAH TOWN.

THE SEED IN MYSTERY WAS REVEALED

THE HOLY SPIRIT, THREE-IN-ONE
COMBINED IN FLESH THE LIVING WORD
AND PLACED IN MARY'S WOMB, A SON.

HOW STRANGE THE VIRGIN MUST HAVE FELT

ON HEARING GABRIEL SHARE THE NEWS
BUT JOSEPH'S DOUBTS WERE NOT AS CLEAR
SINCE IN HIS HEART WERE OTHER VIEWS.

WHEN GOD'S PREDESTINED MOMENT CAME

ETERNITY WAS PRESSED IN TIME
THE SEED BECAME AN EMBREO
AND HEAVEN'S STAR BEGAN TO SHINE.

WHAT MUSIC MUST HAVE FILLED THE SKY

AS ANGEL CHOIRS ANNOUNCED HIS BIRTH
SO WHEN THE SHEPHERDS SAW HIM THERE
PROCLAIMED HIS COMING TO THE EARTH.

THIS CHRISTMAS MYSTERY ONCE CONCEALED

IS OFFERED AS GOD'S GIFT TO ALL
SO EVERY PEOPLE-GROUP ON EARTH
CAN KNOW THE SAVIOR WHEN THEY CALL.
--B. Pent

RESURRECTION OF THE KING

                    Matthew 28

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD

BY SAGE OR PROPHECIES FORETOLD
INVOLVED A MYSTERY ONCE CONCEALED
BUT NOW IN CHRIST HAS BEEN REVEALED.

THE SIGN OF JONAH IN A WHALE

THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS A LIVING HELL
GAVE PROMISE THAT WHEN JESUS DIED
WITHIN THREE DAYS HE WOULD ARISE.

THEN EASTER'S GOLDEN MORNING CAME

AS MARY AND HER FRIENDS EXPLAIN
AN ANGEL ROLLED THE STONE AWAY
ANNOUNCING RESURRECTION DAY!

THE GUARDS BECAME AS DEAD FROM FRIGHT

BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF THAT LIGHT

BUT WHEN THEY TOLD THE PRIESTS THE NEWS

THEY BRIBED THEM TO REPORT FALSE VIEWS.

THE WOMEN THEN RETURNED TO TELL

THE TOMB WAS JUST AN EMPTY SHELL
THAT CHRIST AROSE JUST AS HE SAID
“HE IS ALIVE! NO LONGER DEAD!”

BUT JOHN AND PETER DIDN'T BELIEVE

THAT OUT FROM DEATH LIFE COULD PROCEED
UNTIL THEY RUSHED INTO HIS TOMB
WHERE HOPE REVIVED, DISPELLING GLOOM.

IN GALILEE THE LORD APPEARED

REMOVING EVERY DOUBT THEY FEARED
THE POWER THAT RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD
BECAME HIS PLEDGE THEY WOULD BE LED.

THE KING THEN GAVE THIS LAST COMMAND:

“THE GREAT COMMISSION MUST EXPAND
SO EVERY PEOPLE-GROUP ON EARTH
CAN FIND THROUGH CHRIST A SECOND BIRTH!”

TO PROVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WAS REAL

BAPTISM WAS THE SIGN AND SEAL
AND FROM A GROWING FAITH WOULD SHARE
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE EVERYWHERE.

THE FINAL PICTURE MATTHEW VIEWS

IS MEANT FOR CHRISTIANS AND FOR JEWS
SO EVERYONE REDEEMED FROM SIN
CAN KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST IS KING.
--B. Pent

THE PASSION OF THE KING

                          Matthew 26-27

THE SHADOW OF A CROSS WAS SET IN PLACE

WITHIN THE MINDS AND HEARTS BENT ON DISGRACE

WHILE PHARISEES AND SCRIBES COLLUDE AS ONE

TO KILL THEIR KING WHO CLAIMED TO BE GOD'S SON.

THE PASSION WEEK BEGAN IN SIMON'S HOME

WHERE DEATH AND HELL CONVERGED ON HIM ALONE

WHILE MARY POURED RARE PERFUME ON HIS HEAD

SOME CALLED IT WASTEFUL; COULD BE SOLD INSTEAD.

IN THE UPPER ROOM DISCIPLES SHARED A MEAL

WITH BREAD AND WINE, COMMUNION'S VISUAL SEAL

BUT WARNED THEY WOULD FORSAKE AND TURN AWAY

AS JUDAS PLANNED TO CAREFULLY BETRAY.

THEN BY THE KIDRON VALLEY SLOPE THEY TALKED

AS UPWARD TOWARD AN OLIVE GROVE THEY WALKED

BUT WHEN THE WEIGHT OF SIN TORE HIM APART

HE PRAYED IN AGONY WITH BROKEN HEART.

THREE TIMES HE URGED HIS FAITHFUL FRIENDS TO PRAY

BUT SLUMBER WON, EXHAUSTED FROM THE DAY

THE CUP THAT JESUS SOUGHT TO PASS FROM HIM

NOW WILLINGLY HE DRANK TO PAY FOR SIN.

THE SOUND OF MEN WITH CLUBS AND SWORDS APPEARED

AS IF AGAINST SOME REBEL FORCE THEY FEARED

BUT JESUS CALMLY SPOKE AND TOOK HIS STAND

WITH JUDAS' KISS, A SIGN TO BIND HIS HAND.

THAT NIGHT HE STOOD BEFORE SANHEDRIN'S COURT

ACCUSED OF MANY CRIMES WITHOUT SUPPORT

BUT WHEN HE CLAIMED TO BE GOD'S ONLY SON

THE CRIES TO “CRUCIFY” INCREASED AS ONE.

THEN ON TO PILATE'S ROMAN COURT THEY CAME

BOTH PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES BROUGHT BLAME

WHEN PILATE ASKED WHOM THEY WOULD HAVE RELEASED

THEY CHOSE BARABBAS THOUGH HE WAS A THIEF.

THE GUARDS LED JESUS TO THE COMMON HALL

WHERE SOLDIERS SCOURGE THEIR PREY UNTIL THEY FALL

A CROWN OF THORNS WAS PRESSED UPON HIS HEAD

BEATEN AND FLOGGED TIL HE WAS ALMOST DEAD.

CONDEMNED TO DIE, HE BORE THE CROSS ALONE

A SPOTLESS LAMB FOR SINNERS TO ATONE

HIS NAIL-PIERCED HANDS AND FEET AND BLEEDING SIDE

BECAME THE SEAL UPON REDEMPTION'S TIDE.

THE FINAL CRY WAS HEARD AMIDST THE NIGHT

THE VEIL WAS RENT BEFORE SHEKINAH'S LIGHT

IN JOSEPH'S CARVED-OUT TOMB THE SAVIOR LAY

THREE DAYS TO HELL AND BACK THE SCRIPTURES SAY.

--B. Pent



PROPHECIES OF THE KING

            

                                 Matthew 24-25

WHILE LEAVING THE TEMPLE THE COMMENT WAS MADE
WHAT BEAUTY AND SPLENDOR THE BUILDING DISPLAYED
BUT JESUS RESPONDED THAT EVERY LAST STONE
WOULD FALL FROM ITS MOORINGS AND BE LEFT ALONE.

THE QUESTIONS THEN FOLLOWED WHILE CLIMBING THE HILL
EXACTLY THE TIME-FRAME HIS WORDS WOULD FULFILL?
AND WHAT WOULD THE SIGN OF HIS COMING PORTEND
THAT THIS WAS THE TIME FOR THE KINGDOM TO END?

THERE ON MOUNT OLIVET JESUS EXPLAINED

ALL THAT WOULD HAPPEN, ALL THAT REMAINED
TO FINALLY FULFILL WHAT THE PROPHETS FORETOLD
OF ISRAEL'S MESSIAH THE WORLD WOULD BEHOLD.

THE ARMIES OF TITUS WHO CONQUERED THE LAND

IS TOLD IN MARK'S GOSPEL SO JEWS COULD DISBAND
THE TEMPLE AND WALLS OF JERUSALEM FELL
A MILLION WERE KILLED AS JOSEPHUS WOULD TELL.

BUT MATTHEW RECORDS EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE

WHEN ANTICHRIST RULES AND THE CHURCH IS REPLACED
THE PROPHECIES TOLD BY DANIEL WILL COME
AS JOHN MAKES IT CLEAR WHEN GOD'S JUDGMENT IS DONE.

THE FIRST FOURTEEN VERSES WERE SIGNS FOR EACH AGE

THAT JESUS MAY COME AND RE-ENTER LIFE'S STAGE
THAT FAMINES AND WARS AND DISEASE WOULD PREVAIL
AND FALSE CHRISTS AND EARTHQUAKES INCREASE WITHOUT FAIL.

YET SCRIPTURE MAKES CLEAR WHEN THESE SIGNS ALL CONVERGE

AND WIDEWORLD CONFUSION BEGINS TO IMMERGE
THAT JACOB'S DARK HOUR IS SOON TO BEGIN
THE GREAT TRIBULATION BECAUSE OF MAN'S SIN.

THE OLIVET DISCOURSE THEN OUTLINES THE TIME

WHEN SUN, MOON AND STARS NO LONGER WILL SHINE
AND ANTICHRIST RULES WITH THE POWER OF HELL
RELEASING GOD'S WRATH LIKE AN ATOM BOMB SHELL.

THEN OUT FROM THE HEAVENS ABLAZE ON A CLOUD

THE KING WILL DESCEND IN SHEKINAH'S BRIGHT SHROWD
ALL EYES WILL BEHOLD HIM AND LOOK ON HIS FACE
AND ISRAEL REDEEMED WILL FIND CLEANSING AND GRACE.

THE LORD TOLD THREE STORIES TO HELP ILLUSTRATE

THE KIND OF A MODEL HIS SERVANTS SHOULD MAKE
EQUIPPED AND CONTROLLED BY HIS SPIRIT DIVINE
EACH TALENT AND GIFT MUST CONSISTANTLLY SHINE.

THE STORY THEN CLOSES AT JESUS' RETURN

WITH NATIONS ALL GATHERED AT HIS JUDGMENT THRONE
THE SHEEP ARE THE RIGHTEOUS WHO HONOR HIS NAME
THE GOATS WHO OPPRESS HIS ELECT, DIE IN SHAME.
--B. Pent

FINAL PRESENTATION & REJECTION OF THE KING

 

                                Matthew 21-23

MATTHEW RECORDS THE LAST CALL TO HIS OWN

AS JESUS THE KING CLAIMS MOUNT ZION HIS THRONE
RIDING A COLT AMIDST SHOUTS FROM THE CROWD
“HOSANNAH! SON OF DAVID!” IN HONOR THEY BOWED.

HISTORY AND PROPHECY CONVERGE NOW IN TIME
FULFILLING THE WORDS OF ZACHARIAH 9:9
“SEE, YOUR KING COMES ON THE FOAL OF AN ASS!”
TRIUMPH AND VICTORY WOULD SOON COME TO PASS!

BUT SAD IS THE STORY WHEN VISION IS BLURRED
AND CRIES FOR A CROSS BEGIN TO BE HEARD
THE FIG TREE NOW WITHERED PRODUCES NO FRUIT
LIKE ISRAEL REJECTED, DESTROYED AT ITS ROOT.

THE TEMPLE THAT ONCE HELD THE GLORY OF GOD
WAS BUSY WITH MERCHANTS CORRUPTING ITS SOD
BY FILLING THE COURTYARD WITH LIVESTOCK AND DOVES
HIS HOUSE WAS NOW PRAYERLESS AND EMPTY OF LOVE.

AFTER HE CHASED ALL THE MERCHANTS AWAY
THE PHARISEES ASKED WHY HE DID IT THIS WAY.
HIS STORIES EXPOSED THE SINS THEY HAD DONE
LIKE LEASING A VINEYARD AND KILLING THE SON.

THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED WAS CHRIST
AS RULERS TOOK COUNCIL TO SHORTEN HIS LIFE
THE STORY HE TOLD OF A KING'S WEDDING FEAST
WAS MEANT TO CONDEMN EVERY SCRIBE, EVERY PRIEST.

SOME QUESTIONS WERE GIVEN TO TRAP HIM ONE DAY
LIKE MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN OR TAXES TO PAY
HE ANSWERED DISCRETELY FROM GOD'S WRITTEN WORD
EXPOSING THEIR MOTIVES HE CLEARLY OPPOSED.

JESUS THEN ASKED WHO MESSIAH WOULD BE?

“THE SON OF KING DAVID THE PROPHET'S DECREE!”

SO WHY DID THE KING CALL MESSIAH HIS LORD?
SINCE THAT'S WHAT THE PSALM MAKES SO CLEAR IN THE WORD?

THE RULERS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS CLAIM
THAT HE WAS MESSIAH, EMANUEL WHO CAME
THEIR HEARTS BECAME HARDENED, REFUSING TO SEE
THAT HE WAS BOTH MAN AND SUPREME DEITY.

THE PHARISEES TAUGHT ALL THE LAW MOSES WROTE
YET FAILED TO APPLY WHAT GOD SAID WHEN THEY SPOKE
THEY GREEDILY SOUGHT APPROVAL AND FAME
BUT ALL OF THEIR DEEDS SHOWED DECEPTION AND SHAME.

THE KING THEN PRONOUNCED SEVEN WOES THEY DESERVED
CONDEMNING THEIR ACTIONS AND WORKS HE EXPOSED
YET FULL OF COMPASSION HE PLEADS ONE LAST TIME
THAT ISRAEL AGAIN LIKE A BEACON WOULD SHINE.
---B. PENT

INSTRUCTIONS OF THE KING

         

                                   MATTHEW 16-20

THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM THAT OPEN THE DOOR

TO THE HIDDEN MYSTERY NOT SHOWN THEM BEFORE
BEGAN WITH A QUESTION TO THE CROWD STANDING BY
“WHOM DO MEN SAY IS THE ONE FROM ON HIGH?”

MANY OPINIONS WERE GIVEN THAT DAY

“JEREMIAH, ELIJAH OR JOHN” SOME WOULD SAY
BUT PETER CONFESSED IN A VOICE LOUD AND CLEAR
“YOU ARE THE CHRIST, YAHWEH'S SON WHO CAME NEAR!”

JESUS THEN TURNED IN RESPONSE TO THAT “NAME.”

“YOU ARE A STONE! I'M THE ROCK THAT YOU CLAIM!”
THEN HE ANNOUNCED THAT THE CHURCH WOULD BE BORN
OUT OF HIS DEATH LIVING STONES HE WOULD FORM.

ONCE THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH HAS BEEN LAID

DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING MUST THEN BE MAINTAINED
DENYING ONE'S SELF AND BY BEARING HIS CROSS
VICTORY IS PROMISED, ALL ELSE IS BUT LOSS.

AS GROUNDWORK FOR THE CHURCH'S FOUNDATION

HE SPOKE OF HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
REVEALING PROOF HE WAS THE ONE
THE PROPHETS SAID WAS YAHWEH'S SON.

UNTIL THEN, HIS GLORY WAS HIDDEN FROM THEM

HIS OUTWARD APPEARANCE LIKE ALL OTHER MEN.
THEN AT THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN ONE DAY
HE WAS TRANSFIGURED IN BRILLIAN ARRAY.

ELIJAH AND MOSES APPEARED WITH HIM THERE

AS JESUS' CLOSE FRIENDS CONTINUED TO STARE
PETER SUGGESTED THREE BOOTHS TO BE MADE
BUT GOD SAID: “MY SON IS TO BE OBEYED.”

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS WERE SHARED WITH HIS MEN

CONCERNING THE CHURCH WHO ON HIM WOULD DEPEND
ISSUES OF SERVICE, FORGIVENESS, DIVORCE
DEALING WITH FACTIONS THAT STEER ONE OFF COURSE.

AFTER SOME CHILDREN WERE BROUGHT TO BE BLESSED

JESUS MADE CLEAR THAT THE ROAD TO SUCCESS
WAS NOT BUILT WITH GOLD OR PRESTIGE ON EARTH'S SOD
BUT FAITH AS A CHILD FORMS THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

THE MASTER THEN LIKENED OUR SERVICE FOR HIM

AS GRAPES FROM A VINE WITH A HARVEST TO WIN
SOME PLANT OR WATER THE SEED THAT IS SOWN
GOD GIVES THE INCREASE FOR HIS PRAISE ALONE.
--B. Pent

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