JUST

There was a Man

Whom the world's injustice

Pinioned. Because every thought

And deed, was just.

Before an earthly ruler

The Just One stood. Crowds 

Clamoured for injustice; He

Accomplished righteousness.

To those who would condemn

Mary He would readily

Answer: He reflected the divine

View of a righteous action.

Having completed the work

To the satisfaction of Him

Who loved Him He could

Address, "Righteous Father".

NOBLE

There was a Man

Amid the world's

Churls. God saw each

Of His acts was noble.

While the world destroyed,

Sin damaged, Satan corroded

This was the man who

Devised noble things.

If the world - or disciples -

Criticised one who anointed, He

Showed that He would stand

To such a noble thing.

So that His Father was

Constrained by love to accord

What accords to His nobility

The title "Lord and Christ".

TRUE

There was a Man

Amid a world lying

In the wicked one; all

He said was true .

Amongst gainsayers,

Self-seekers, and those at enmity

With truth, He could

Be named the Amen.

Among disciples He could start,

As He could with Pharisees,

Sentences of high intent,

"Verily, verily ...".

Before His Father He could

Acknowledge One in glory

And in intimacy as

The only true God.

GLORY

Lord, Thou wast there before the worlds began
In realms of love beyond the mind of man;
The glory that subsisted before time,
Ineffable, eternal and sublime
                       Belongs to Thee.

Lord, Thou wast here, descended to fulfil,
In grace and patience, all the Father's will:
The glory of a well‑beloved Son
By whom the Father's will was fully done
                       Belongs to Thee.

Lord, Thou didst die, the spotless Lamb of God,
An Offering whose savour spreads abroad:
The glory of a perfect Sacrifice
Whose precious blood God's heart will always prize
                       Belongs to Thee.

Lord, Thou art crowned upon the Father's throne
Imparting power and wisdom to Thine own:
The glory of the Firstborn from the dead
Who is the body's, the assembly's Head
                       Belongs to Thee.

Lord, Thou wilt come to reign upon the earth
Dispelling tumult, conflict, plague and dearth:
The glory of the Ruler of all things
Who is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings
                       Belongs to Thee.

SNAKES AND LADDERS

Sometimes my Christian life seems
A game of snakes and ladders.

I edge forward and backward
With the top a long way away.

Snakes lurk - even
After I throw a six.  Some long.

Glimpses of heaven - I, sometimes
Climb where Jacob looked.

Sometimes the top of a ladder
Is close to a serpent’s mouth.

Holy Spirit, help me
To overleap the snakes.

Lord Jesus, help me
To reach and climb the ladders.

Father, help me to remember
The home prepared for me.

ANOINTING

Because she knew that Jesus was distinctive
The woman broke the flask of alabaster
And with a gesture lovingly instinctive
Poured out the precious nard upon the Master.

Because His glory passed their comprehension
Since they embraced an older dispensation
The woman's tender deed evoked dissension
From even those selected from the nation.

Because her action proved she apprehended
The way He went and answered His affection
He spoke as her Defender and commended
Her deed as right for constant recollection.

Lord help us in our deeds as we aspire
To answer to Thyself and Thy desire!

COLOUR

Blue -
Thus He appeared to God:
The heavenly Man.

Purple -
Least imperious, but
Most imperial Man.

Scarlet -
God has distinguished
The most distinctive Man.

Byssus -
This was the Man who most displayed
Fineness and purity.



See Exodus 25: 4 etc.

ANSWERS

The Firstborn of creation
Rejected by His nation
Secured a new relation
  For men of Adam's race;
Ascended undefeated,
His work for God completed,
The Son of Man is seated
  Upon the throne of grace.

The Father was delighted
And heavenly hosts united
To give the Man once slighted
  The place that is His own;
The One who had descended
In whom all good was blended
Sits, risen and ascended,
  Upon the Father's throne.

His glory is eternal;
Things earthly and infernal
Will own He is supernal
  And bow to Him above;
But how much more the measure
Of His unbounded pleasure
In that peculiar treasure
  That answers to His love!