There once was time that stood outside of time -
No earth, no sky, no water, air, or land.
Then came the Word, the voice of God sublime -
Light through the darkness; life, the light of man.
He separated out the sky from earth,
The day from night, the water from the land.
Gave Adam everlasting life at birth,
‘Till death came to the garden by his hand.
Now women bring us into life through pain,
By Adam’s curse all men return to dust,
So all that’s born must die and what remains
Is what we do with time, and what we trust:
That God so loved the world He gave His Son.
When Jesus rose again death was undone.

It started with a man from Galilee
(A simple land, subservient to Rome)
Who worked the simple trade of carpentry
And made the town of Nazareth his home.
He did not travel widely as a youth,
Or do great deeds, or earn a high degree.
He worked His trade, He labored for the truth,
Preparing for three years of ministry.
His cousin John the Baptist did begin
To herald that the time of God was near.
The carpenter was baptized without sin.
The heavens opened up, a dove appeared.
A voice came from the clouds when John was done,
And God proclaimed the carpenter His son.

Then Jesus first showed signs He was divine -
Made Peter and his brother fish for men.
At Cana He turned water into wine,
Worked miracles, brought men to life again.
The people flocked, He preached from on a mount
Disciples hanging on to all He said
Five thousand showed up, more than they could count,
He fed them all from just five loaves of bread.
He chose a dozen men to do God’s will
Bestowing gifts of power over loss
To heal the sick, to cleanse, and raise the dead
Admonishing these men to bear their cross.
They went through all the world to build a flock,
The gates of hell still helpless ‘gainst that rock.

He had a chance to rule upon the earth.
His Jewish people waited for a king.
They thought he was the one of promised birth
To give to Rome a day of reckoning.
They welcomed Him into Jerusalem
By singing ‘Son of David. Blessed One.’
In hopes He was the savior promised them –
The leader who would see their battle won.
But Jesus put temptation at His back.
“Get thee behind me Satan,” He proclaimed.
Not of the world, but on a different track,
He labored for our souls, not wealth or fame.
In seven days the ancient world would die
And God’s new covenant would come alive.

The city was a-bustling with crowds;
The Jewish feast of Passover at hand.
An air of revolution was allowed
In those who thought the Christ would free their land.
The Jewish scribes and Pharisees were scared –
They feared unrest, they feared the Romans more.
They planned to capture Jesus unprepared
And kill Him, hoping to avert a war.
The Son of God knew he would be betrayed
By Judas, a disciple of the Lord.
Just thirty coins of silver was his pay –
Eternity of torment his reward.
While Jesus wished this cup would pass Him by,

The Father willed it. He prepared to die.
He gathered the disciples for a meal,
Made bread His flesh, He broke, and bade them eat.
“This is My body, given you to heal
The sins of man.” A gift of finest wheat.
He took a cup, gave thanks, and blessed the wine.
“This is My blood, a covenant anew –
That sins may be forgiven, God’s design:
Restoring everlasting life to you.”
His heart was heavy, death was at His door
He asked that Peter, James, and John stand by.
He did not want to suffer anymore
Yet knew that He’d be lifted up to die.
The three men fell asleep while Jesus prayed,
Their spirit willing, flesh too weakly made.

The high priest’s minions came in stealth by night
To haul the Son of God before the scribes.
While Peter tried to keep his Lord in sight,
His faith in Jesus Christ he thrice denied.
The Jews bound Jesus, charging blasphemy.
The spit on Him, and brought Him to be tried.
While Pontius Pilate thought to set Him free
The crowd demanded he be crucified.
Then Pontius Pilate tried to wash his hands –
A thousand years of prophecies fulfilled.
He found no fault, but caved to their demands,
Gave Jesus to his soldiers to be killed.
Barrabus was a murderer set free.
When Jesus died for him, he died for me.

The Romans put a crown upon His head
Of twisted thorns, and bent down at the knee.
“King of the Jews!” they mocked as Jesus bled,
As if they’d serve a man from Galilee.
They beat and scourged Him, spit, and whipped Him more
‘Till blood rained down like water off His back.
He agonized beneath the cross He bore,
The sinful weight of man’s brutal attack.
He bore the load until it broke Him down,
Then Simon from Cyrene helped bear the weight.
As women wept they dragged it through the town.
He warned the women to bewail their fate.
They nailed His hands and feet unto a tree
And crucified Him there on Cavalry.

The soldiers stripped Him, cast lots for His clothes,
Mocked him by writing, ‘Jesus, King of Jews.’
The scribes scoffed, “He could come down if He chose.”
They mocked His trust in God, and heaped abuse.
They nailed two robbers with Him, on each side.
Some say they mocked Him too, some say one prayed.
“I ask you to remember me,” he cried.
The Lord said he’d find Paradise that day.
The land grew dark. The light was fading fast.
The Lord cried, “Why have you forsaken me?”
There on the cross our savior breathed His last.
The graves were opened up and saints set free.
So let us pause, remember Him who died
So we might live – this man we crucified.

The chief priests knew that Jesus said He’d rise
And so they put a guard upon His grave.
They didn’t want disciples spreading lies
That what they killed, the strength of God would save.
The first day of the week began to dawn.
Two Mary’s, loved my Jesus, saw the tomb.
An earthquake rumbled, strange phenomenon
Made guards shake like they’d seen their very doom.
And angel said to Mary, “Do not fear.
I know you seek out Jesus – crucified,
But He is risen. See, He is not here.
The dead has come to life, now death has died.
And then they saw a man – they knew His voice.
They fell at Jesus’ feet. He said, “Rejoice!”

The followers of Jesus were afraid
That they might be the next ones to be killed.
They huddled in a hidden room and prayed,
When Jesus came – His prophecy fulfilled.
He’d said that if they tore the temple down
That He would build it up in just three days.
His body is the temple – holy ground.
He showed his hands, his side, they were amazed.
He gave the Holy Spirit in his breath,
And deputized. He taught them to forgive.
They feared the Lord, no longer fearing death.
Most gave their blood so that His word might live.
The martyrs gave their flesh and blood for me,
To light a lamp for all the world to see.

The Lord called Simon, Peter, which means rock.
He said that if you love me, “Feed my sheep.
Feed my lambs, be shepherd to my flock,
And teach that what they sow is what they reap.”
Upon that rock a temple wall was laid.
A church was spread abroad across the earth.
He rose, and a new covenant was made:
In Jesus’ flesh and blood we find rebirth.
The temple that He built is not of stone,
But of my eyes, my hands, my pen, my head.
Of course it is not built of me alone,
But all who take His body for their bread.
We’ll live with Him if we can hear His call:
Love God, and love your neighbor. That is all.