And left alone of men

Among disciples
Apprenticing fishers of men;

Among disciples
Teaching the way of God's will;

Among disciples
Serving in bondman service;

Among disciples
Looking for comforters,
Looking for watchers,
Looking for prayers.

Without disciples,
"Left alone of men",
"And all left him and fled".

THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

On this ascent David
Wept; but on this summit
David worshipped; and here
His friend Hushai met him.

All others going home
Jesus was here: alone,
But not alone, enjoying
The company of His Father.

The coigne afforded the Christ
A view of Jerusalem; a point
To which could come for prophecy
Four of His disciples.

In this vicinity Jesus found
The ass and colt; here
He was acclaimed; from here
He descended, and wept.

Having sung a hymn He led
To the place of anguished breath;
To the place of agony foreseen
Where the Father's will enthralled.

Next see a triumphing troop,
Disciples, returning from the Mount
Of Olive where they have observed
The ascension of their risen Lord.

And Messiah's feet will stand
On the Mount of Olives when He
Goes out to fight; this Mount shall
Be His people's way of escape.

STRAITENING

Do clouds gather, dimness
And grimness oppress?
He has known the darkness.

Does the way narrow?  Cliffs
Loom over you?
How He was straitened!

Do you feel pressures -
Impinging, slow or quick?
He knew Gethsemane.

17/12/2017