Posted in Different Scriptures, Spoken Word

John 20:1-18

Mary didn’t come praying
“Jesus, please be resurrected.”
She had no way of understanding
What was to be expected

Sometimes we think God requires prayer
That understands out of thin air
What to ask for, and when to say
Exactly what He’d want today.

The mystery of the empty tomb
A hope for which they’d not given much room
The disciples returned to where they lived
While Mary had more grief to give.

Two angels first appeared within
And asked her why she wept
“They have taken my Lord away
And now I’m unsure where He’s kept.”

Then the gardener from outside
Smiled and asked the same
She was overwhelmed and smiling wide
As soon as He said her name

It was no gardener standing there
In physical body appeared
It was Jesus, resurrected
Saying “do not hold me here”.”

“I didn’t return to stay forever
But to tell you I must go,
But tell the brothers I will ascend
And I’m here so you will know.”

So Mary went to share the news
Soon as the disciples she did reach
(Which lays a pretty good foundation
For all women called to preach.)

Jesus, resurrected Lord
Firstborn of New Creation
Reveals to us the Father’s Power
And offers us His Salvation…

Posted in Uncategorized

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

The bitterness of knowing
His time had come to pass
Sharing a final Passover
He stepped up to the task

By kneeling before each of them
Even his betrayer
To wash their feet as servants do
Even though this seemed unfair

“Not my feet” Peter declared
“But all of me instead.”
Jesus looked at Him with Love
(Though perhaps shook His head.)

As mortar to the bricks of slaves
So my Love fills the gaps
And you will build a Kingdom, freed
To love beyond all maps

The meal started with thankfulness
But turned bitter again
When Jesus said where He was going
They could not come with Him

He would become the spotless lamb
Redeeming every story
And very soon, the Father would
Receive redemptive Glory

Not only new beginnings
But a promised New Creation
As God transformed & flourished in Love
A New and Global Nation

Posted in Different Scriptures, Spoken Word

John 13:21-32

Jesus became troubled
And called out his betrayer
Even though it was something
He could’ve sought in silent prayer

A group that watches out
Over the hearts of each other
Not only sharing friendship
But each one was like a brother

Moments of authenticity
Threaten deceptions’ power
For Judas, it set him free to act
Being told this was the hour

Now is the time to stop pretending
To reveal what’s in your heart
The heart of Judas, revealed as hard
By choosing to depart

Vulnerable relationship
Is a Holy place to stay
It’s not a magic pill that makes
All sin go away

But as God’s children covenant
To watch over each other in Love
We’re reminded of God’s own desire
Not to remain “above”.

He came to live among us
To make our world His own
And not only to share time and space
But to humbly take the throne

If Judas and we would stay
And humbly confess our sin
In purposeful relationships
Where such Love can enter in

Imagine the redemption
God can use these moments for
And it can all begin by simply
Not running out the door.