[Part 1]
A while ago we told the story
Of how God gave up heaven’s glory
He came to earth, became a man –
It’s all part of his rescue plan
He came to save a world in pain
He came to bring us hope again
To show people both near and far
Just how completely loved we are
We heard before how he was born
In Bethlehem on that starry morn
The Saviour who is Christ the Lord
In whom all hope can be restored.
His birth was very ordinary
So you and I could simply see
That whether we’re big or very small
Jesus is God’s great gift to all.
But that’s not all; there’s more to say –
Jesus’ birth was just one day.
Because he grew up, became a man
and put in place God’s rescue plan.
He went about from place to place,
Teaching about God’s amazing grace
He taught with words and taught with deeds
The lame could dance, the blind could see.
He healed the sick, even raised the dead
Fed thousands with some fish and bread.
The least and lost he’d not forget –
He showed love to all he met.
[Part 2]
Wherever he went crowds came near
His message of grace they longed to hear.
The more he did, the more he said
The more the talk about him spread.
People were asking what this all meant –
Was he the one who was heaven sent?
In fact the crowds were wondering
Was he the promised saving King?
Not everyone greeted this with a cheer,
They wished that Jesus would disappear.
Priests and rulers, when push came to shove,
Had all the power but he got the love.
And the more he was loved the surer they were
That he was the one the people preferred.
They couldn’t control him; the threat was too great.
They wanted him gone before it was too late.
In Jerusalem it all came to a peak
So much happened in just one week.
First, on Sunday, Jesus came as the King,
Riding a donkey as crowds greeted him.
“Hosanna,” they cried, “for the King make way,”
Today is the dawning of a brand new day.”
They waved palm leaves, they shouted and cheered,
It was just as bad as the rulers had feared.
Next, he came to the temple and caused a to-do
Tables turned over, freed doves they flew.
God’s house, he said, was becoming a shop,
It’s a place of worship, and this just has to stop.
Throughout that week he continued to show
That God’s path of love was the way we should go.
The rulers, he said, had got it all wrong,
The song they were singing wasn’t God’s song.
The people just loved him; wanted him to be King,
The rulers, however, would do anything
To hold onto power, whatever it took,
They bided their time, and then they struck.
Thursday evening, Jesus spent with his friends
And showed them how far God’s love extends.
He washed their feet, and said, “That’s the way
You should love each other every single day.”
Then he broke some bread and poured out wine.
“They’re symbols,” he said, “of my sacrifice.
I am giving up my life for you,
So your friendship with God can be made new.”
Seeing that his friends were scared,
“I’m the way, truth and life,” he declared.
“I have to leave soon, but you can come too.
In heaven I’ll prepare a home for you.”
[Part 3]
After that, at the end of the day
Jesus and his friends made their way
To a garden where Jesus started to pray,
His voice full of angst and dismay,
“Father, please take this cup away.
But your will be done, I’ll obey.”
His friends were alarmed at this display.
They wanted to help, but what could they say?
Exhausted, confused they drifted to sleep.
They woke with a start at the sound of feet
Marching towards them, armed to the teeth,
A group of soldiers with swords unsheathed,
Led by a man who went up to Jesus –
Kissed him. The others gasped, “He’s one of us!
How could he do this, how could he betray
Our teacher, our friend, in such a way?”
Soldiers stepped in, grabbed hold of their man.
And Peter thought, “I’ll stop this if I can.”
He swung with his sword in rage and fear,
Struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear.
Jesus said “Peter, don’t you understand
That’s not my way,” and he reached with his hand,
Healed the servant’s ear before he stressed,
“Am I some dangerous rebel you’ve come to arrest?
I was there in the temple every day.
This is your hour when darkness reigns.”
And with that the soldiers led Jesus away
The chief priests and rulers had their prey.
He was in their clutches and they held him tight.
He suffered at their hands all that night.
They put him on trial at break of day.
All kinds of lies they started to say
About things he had said, things that he did,
Anything they could so they could be rid
Of Jesus, the one whose language of love
The rulers didn’t speak, when push came to shove.
So, they had him convicted, sentenced to die,
While his enemies shouted out, “Crucify!”
Jesus on the cross was in so much pain
But he didn’t even once complain.
Instead, words of forgiveness and love he spoke
Even for the rulers and temple folk
And to one of the criminal guys,
He said, “Today you’ll be with me in paradise.”
Then, at the last, “It is finished,” he cried,
“Father, I’m in your hands.” Then he died.
[Part 4]
So, this is the part that’s hardest to tell.
When Jesus died, his friends’ hopes did as well.
They’d had so much faith in their friend.
They couldn’t believe it had come to an end.
Mary his mother and other friends too
Watched him be buried in a borrowed tomb.
They watched as the entrance was blocked up with a stone,
They could never have felt so sad, so alone.
About Saturday there’s not much to say;
A day full of sadness, full of dismay.
We have, I’m sure, all had days like these
When the tears flow and they never cease.
But Sunday is coming – that’s not how it ends.
Let’s go right back to Jesus’s friends.
Early in the morning at the dawn of the day
Some women headed to Jesus’s grave.
They wanted to show him some final care,
But were shocked to find there was no body there!
Instead – and this really gave them a fright –
They saw an angel, with clothes dazzling white.
“You’re looking for Jesus – well, he’s not here!
He’s not dead, he has risen, there’s nothing to fear.
He told you he’d die but then rise from the dead.
Look, it’s all happening just as he said!
Soon you will see him, you’ll know that it’s true,
This incredible thing that I’m saying to you.
Go, tell the others – go, right away.
Tell them the news of this resurrection day!”
So, sure enough, that’s just what they did;
Went back to the others as they’d been bid.
Told them all about the angels’ news,
The others were shocked and rather confused,
Until Jesus himself appeared in their midst
so alive he was able to be hugged and kissed.
He told them again of God’s great rescue,
He rose from the dead so we will rise too.
Death and pain won’t have the last word
Thanks to Jesus whose story we’ve heard.
He came to save a world in pain,
He came to bring us hope again.
To show people both near and far
Just how completely loved we are.
This hope is for everyone, big or small,
Because Jesus is God’s great gift to all.
Halwill Publishing 