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by John Lowstreet

inspects His domain.

  Denouncing religion, He upholds the truth.

  Healing the cripples and relieving all pain,

  Lord Jesus has power to restore our youth.

  It is their last chance. Prophecy unfolds.

  Time has run out. The Savior weeps.

  The King has gone. Now history holds

  Jerusalem probated, and her glory keeps.

  He leaves the Temple and foretells its destruction.

  Until they bless Him in the Name of the Lord

  The Gentiles will hear and receive His instruction

  While Israel mourns and flees from the sword.

  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem your Savior cries.

  You’ve missed it again, but it’s worse, this last.

  Your house is left desolate, your Jesus sighs.

  You’ve rejected your future; you’re left with your past.

  You’ll grind through the centuries like Samson sorrowing

  Who held to his God though his light was dim.

  The blind Judge of Israel, some guidance borrowing,

  Foreshadowed the mourning of the sons of Shem.

  Your temple was given to you to serve God

  Whom you have rejected and condemned as a liar.

  You give Him to Gentiles who think it not odd

  That to all He gives life and The Spirit’s fire.

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  The nations receive Him because you have sent Him

  Away from yourselves that He might be killed.

  He sends you to the nations. That’s the thought that you lent Him.

  Now the nations are saved, but that’s what God willed.

  You’ll thrive again just as Samson’s hair grew.

  Your God may chasten, but not cast you away.

  He’ll bring you again. His mercies are more true.

  He’ll call you with love. There’ll be a new day.

  But, now to the cross and the tomb goes Messiah.

  Dark tragedy blankets the land with grief.

  The loss is profound, but the prophets did prophesy

  His sacrifice would save us and bring us relief.

  There’s an upper room where the Savior goes

  To celebrate the ancient feast.

  Passover is the time when Israel shows

  They were saved by Lamb’s blood, and their slavery ceased.

  He took His apostles from the old to the new.

  With loving hands He washed their feet.

  As He talked their understanding grew

  To release the past, the Kingdom to greet.

  The Kingdom of God is soon to come.

  The fruit of the vine no more He’ll drink

  Until He drinks it new with some

  Whose faith will understand the link.

  The link is between the new and the old.

  One covenant paves the way for another that’s better.

  The law makes us see God’s grace untold.

  Christ’s truth enforces beyond the law’s letter.

  His kingdom of righteousness has a solid foundation,

  A perfect covenant of truth and grace.

  Sins are forgiven, but the new creation

  Makes holiness happen in depravity’s place.

  Satan’s defeated. His efforts backfire.

  Christ he wounds, but Jesus kills death.

  Life is triumphant. Mankind can aspire

  To see God’s face and forever draw breath.

  We’ve won, but those nails pierce flesh that’s holy.

  The daughters of Zion wail and lament.

  The sight of the Savior hung so coldly

  Pierces their souls, but His head is unbent.

  From thorns on His head to stripes on His back

  A redeeming river flows like a flood.

  The world’s weight of sins is a tortuous rack.

  He dissolves that load with His own holy blood.

  He exhausts the curse of God’s holy law.

  Christ fulfills the requirements of a kinsman redeeming.

  He removes the world’s guilt and every flaw

  That fouled God’s image in man once gleaming.

  But His soul is suffering more than His flesh.

  Banished from paradise because He is one

  With a bride, entangled in love’s dark mesh,

  So separated from God that He feels undone.

  “My God, My God, forsake me not.”

  The scapegoat’s cry escapes His lips.

  His soul is an offering for dark sin’s blot.

  He’s trapped in our sin and our punishment grips.

  His soul is an offering for humanity’s sin.

  But, by His stripes the believer is healed.

  His misery makes Satan sneer a silly grin.

  But Christ acquires a new power to wield.

  The right to redeem from the enemy’s grasp

  Is a privilege the devil could never foresee.

  Christ breaks the lock and undoes the hasp

  That held hell’s prisoners, and now we are free.

  Free to serve God and become His children,

  We can stand in the light and rebuke the night.

  The new day has dawned that will have no end.

  We repent of our wrong and embrace Christ’s light.

  But, into the tomb goes the Lord’s cold corpse.

  For three days He lays in the heart of the earth.

  Not a bone was broken for God’s word supports

  God’s purpose to witness to His awesome worth.

  Guards seal the tomb, but angels protect

  Him who expectantly, powerfully lies within.

  He foretold His own death, but none could suspect

  How correctly He predicted, “I will rise again.”

  The tide of power against the grave arises.

  A surge of victorious triumph explodes.

  A glorious morning of miracle surprises,

  And the doom of all evil valiantly forebodes.

  “I rose again”, is Jesus’ credential.

  “I’ll come again”, is His promise certain.

  “You’ll live again”, is His gospel essential.

  Heaven will open like a majestic curtain.

  The Kingdom of God has a sure foundation.

  Christ is the solid cornerstone.

  Serving God is an effectual vocation.

  The barrier between God and man is gone.

  Rejoice, you hills and you ancient mountains,

  You rivers of grace and of love’s allure.

  You crashing waves and gleaming fountains,

  Your God has cleansed you, and now you are pure.

  The River of Life fulfills your destiny.

  An ocean of love receives your homage.

  The Garden of God is watered by the intensity

  Of God’s grace through Christ who displays His image.

  For all eternity our future is blessed.

  Forever we dwell with a family of love.

  We’ll never be banished from heavenly rest,

  Securely comforted by our Father above.

  The power of grace is to forever cleanse

  The immortal souls of guilty men.

  The pardon of God permanently rescinds

  The decree against the offence of sin.

  “Our life is hidden with Christ in God”,

  Is written in a holy epistle of Paul.

  We’re as dead in sin as if under the sod,

  But we live again when we answer Christ’s call.

  We rose with Christ if we’re joined with Him.

  He died because He was willing to be us.

  He had no sin, but full to the brim

  Was our cup which He drank in order to free us.

  All glory to Jesus, our risen Lord.

  All praise to our mighty Father above.

  Blessed be the Spirit whose word is His sword.

  Thanks be to God for redeeming love.

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  About the Author

  John Lowstreet has spent his life trying to know God personally and to more deeply understand God. His one quest is to have more experiences with God. John studied the Bible to find God, and as he found Him, grew to love Him. His writings and poems reflect deeply held convictions about the character of God and the importance of Jesus Christ. Christ is not complicated. He is profound, however.

  There are other books by John Lowstreet at e-book retailers for your use and enjoyment.

  How To Be Blessed By Christ

  How To Be Blessed By Jesus

  In Cadenced Thought

  The Power of His Christ

  Looking Askance

  How to Pray Like Jesus

  Evangelism in Verse

  You are invited to place a review of this book at your favorite e-book retailer.

  Thank you for reading.

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