Easter Poem

An Easter Poem

Jesus and his followers went to Jerusalem.
As they traveled, great crowds followed them.
He went to the temple and drove out merchants there.
He said, “This is not for thieves. It is a house of prayer.”

He taught at the temple and preached the Good News.
Then some priests and elders came to question all his views.
They confronted him as if looking for a fight.
They asked, “Why are you here? Who gave you the right?”

Jesus then asked them a question so they would understand.
He asked, “Did John’s right to baptize come from God or man?”
The priests and elders could not tell them.
So Jesus refused to tell them.

Some teachers of the law tried to trick him.
But Jesus was calm and ready to answer them.
They asked him, “Is it against our law? Tell us.”
“Shall we pay taxes to the emperor, Jesus?”

But Jesus was ready for their little dare.
He asked, “Show me a coin whose face and name are there?”
“The emperor,” they said. And so Jesus answered them,
“Go and pay the emperor what you owe to him.”

“And pay God what belongs to God,” he said.
They had tried to trap him but left speechless instead.
The time for the Festival of Passover was near.
Jesus had left the chief priest in fear.

They wanted to find a way to slay him.
So they tried to get Judas to betray him.
They offered him money to buy his trust.
And he agreed to trap his friend, Jesus.

Jesus and his disciples sat for his final meal.
They listened for what he would reveal.
Jesus told them, “One of you shall betray me.”
They looked around and asked, “Who could that be?”

As they were eating Jesus passed out some bread.
He gave a prayer, broke it, gave it out, and said,
“This is my body, take it and eat it.”
They did as he asked. He didn’t need to repeat it.

Then Jesus took a large cup.
It had some wine and was all filled up.
He said, “This is my blood, so drink it.”
The future looked dark, they didn’t want to think it.

After the meal, Jesus prayed.
Shortly before he was betrayed.
Judas kissed him and Jesus was arrested.
He was taken to Pilate where he was tested.

Pilate thought Jesus had done no wrong.
So he sent him to Herod before too long.
Herod was pleased to see Jesus and questioned him.
But he would not respond, so he was returned to Pilate again.

Pilate knew this case couldn’t wait.
He had a crowd decide Jesus’ fate.
Pilate said he would release Barabbas or Jesus.
The crowd cried out, “Set Barabbas free for us!”

“Should Jesus be free?” He asked the crowd again.
They shouted back angrily, “Crucify him!”
Jesus was condemned, forced to walk to his death.
The crowds mocked him as he walked by and left.

On the way, the soldiers seized a man named Simon.
They forced him to carry the cross behind them.
They nailed his hands and he was crucified.
He was with two criminals until they died.

One robber on his right and another on his left.
They were crucified with Jesus and suffered until death.
Above his head was written, “Here is the King of the Jews.”
The people below him mocked Jesus for his views.

He said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
The soldiers divided up his cloths by lots they drew.
One of the robbers turned and said to Jesus.
“If you are the Messiah, then save yourself and us.”

The other one rebuked him, saying, “We are guilty men.”
But he doesn’t deserve this, he lived without sin.”
Jesus turned to him and looked into his eyes.
And said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

“Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit,” he said.
That was his last breath and then he was dead.
The centurion praised God and Jesus on that day.
Witnesses beat their breasts and then walked away.

His body was taken down, wrapped in cloths, and entombed.
For him, women prepared spices and perfume.
They did not get back to his body anyway
Since they went to observe the Sabbath day.

The women took their spirits and went to the tomb.
But the entrance stone was moved. He was not in the room.
They saw two men of light standing around.
The women bowed in fear with faces toward the ground.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
“He is not here, he is risen,” the men said.
“The Son of Man delivered into the hands of evil men,
Jesus was crucified, laid to rest, and arose again.”

When the men appeared, they were seen by Mary Magdalene.
She told his disciples, but they had not seen the men.
Jesus appeared before the disciples as they dined.
He said, “Why are you troubled? Why are doubts in your mind?”

He told his disciples to touch his hand and feet.
When they were amazed, he asked, “Anything to eat?”
He said, “This is what I told you, when I was still with you.”
“Everything foretold about me will come true.”

“Understand the scriptures as they were written,” he said.
“The Christ will suffer, then arise from the dead.”
He lifted their hands and they were blessed by him.
He went to Heaven and then left them.

His disciples rejoiced and spread his message round the earth.
They told of his life, death, and rebirth.

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David Sowards, television producer, short story writer, poet, novelist, cartoonist, songwriter, graphic artist, actor, musician.

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