[326]. POEM - VICTORY THROUGH SORROW’S DEEP SEA – POEM FOR EASTER – PART 1
SPECIAL NOTE – This poem is too long for SermonCentral’s limited space for Sermon Illustrations, so I have had to cut it in half but don’t really want to do that. THIS IS PART 1.
This is a serious poem. It covers the time from the Garden of Gethsemane through to the crucifixion. It is a poem of 900 words and is divided into 6 groups of 5 stanzas each.
HOW I USED THE POEM
This poem was used for an Easter sermon I gave. Because our church group is small I printed out the poem for people so that they could follow as I read and spoke. I read the first 5 stanzas, then spoke on the substance of them. Then moved to the next 5 and so on. That became the message.
The title of victory through sorrow is exactly what the Lord endured for sin. He passed through the sorrowful sea to the glorious joy beyond. It is sometimes the journey His own children have to make, more and more these days as Christians face courts and persecution for “hate speech” when they defend the bible’s teachings.
Just this morning I listened to an account of a lovely Finnish Christian lady who was convicted by the Supreme Court of Finland for a book she wrote called “Male and Female God Created Them”. Americans ought to be thankful that your founding fathers wrote FREEDOM OF SPEECH into your your Constitution. Australia does not have that, and now the new hate laws here from a Marxist, Israel-hating Government are being used against Christians. Here is the link if you want to see what is happening with this Finnish, Christian member of Parliament:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhEI5gZt_pQ
The poem draws heavily on the prophetic passages of the Old Testament for the Lord’s sufferings, namely Psalm 22, Psalm 69 and Isaiah 52 and 53. Also the New Testament passages for the betrayal night and the crucifixion are used.
I don’t think there is anything more to say. The poem speaks for itself.
{{Isaiah 53:6-7 “All of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to slaughter and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.”}}
{{Psalm 69:14-15 “Deliver me from the mire, and do not let me sink. May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters. May the flood of water not overflow me and may the deep not swallow me up and may the pit not shut its mouth on me.}}
{{Psalm 22:13-16 “They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me. Dogs have surrounded me. A band of evildoers has encompassed me. They pierced my hands and my feet.”}}
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VICTORY THROUGH SORROW’S DEEP SEA – POEM FOR EASTER
“Father, let this cup pass from Me;
Nevertheless Your will be done.”
His soul that night was in agony,
And human comforters were none.
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“I find this One to be innocent.”
“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
The chief priests wanted no adjournment;
Their hatred overflowed the brim.
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Gutless Pilate with a conscience foul,
Sent the Son of God to the cross.
He called for water and a towel”
“You are not Caesar’s friend. Count the loss!”
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“Here stands the Man! Jews, behold your king!”
“Except Caesar, no king have we!
Crucify Him! To Caesar we cling!
Put Him to death. No further plea.”
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Hark! The cries ring loud – “Crucify Him!” Stanza 5
Incited by the priests, they bawled.
“Away with Him! Tear Him limb from limb.”
It was hateful spite that called.
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That farce of a trial then concluded.
He was taken without delay.
Almost all Jewry was deluded;
To Calvary, they made their way.
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More than others, see that body marred.
Behold Him on that cross of grief.
Hung there; from the human race debarred.
See for Him, there was no relief.
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The Lord crushed Him, putting Him to grief;
But in His mouth was no deceit;
And on either side they nailed a thief,
But one of them was made complete.
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King He was, but in appearance not.
Those who gazed saw no attraction,
And His stately form you would not spot.
Sinners wanted no transaction.
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“Commit Yourself to the Lord, You there. Stanza 10
See if He will deliver You.”
And sneering, they all stand there and stare.
“He delights in You. Isn’t that true?”
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“I am not a man, but just a worm;
Reproached and despised by all men.”
The sneering lips and their hearts confirm,
And wagging heads condemn Him then.
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“Dangerous bulls have surrounded me
Bashan bulls circle, and I’m trapped;
Like gaping lions they snarl in glee;
Satan’s dogs at the cross have lapped.”
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“Like wax, My heart within melts away,
And My bones are out of joint.
Dogs are all around. I’m in dismay.”
Encircling evildoers point.
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“Soldiers, let us divide His garments;
For His clothing, lots we will cast.”
Then they gambled over His vestments,
Joyously, in a scene so aghast.
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“I am all alone and forsaken; Stanza 15
Rejected by men and despised.
I am Lord – Messiah mistaken.
By My people I am abscised.”
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23-26 July 2020 Ronald Ferguson 9-8-9-8 ABAB
Synonyms for abscise in the 15th stanza: mutilation, secession, removal, scission, cut away, cleavage, truncation, excision, circumcision, severance, operation, The Jews cut off their own Messiah.
PART 2 WILL FOLLOW ON NEXT.