The Life of Jesus 
By Susan Vaughan Shumake

A baby, so small, you were in that manger.
A baby of peace, born into danger.
Immediately loved, yet also despised,
when the world received knowledge that you had arrived.

The people knew somehow born was a King.
Yet when later you spoke they weren’t listening.
The Israelites did not understand.
How could God’s wondrous Son be merely a man?

Your lesson was love- not to take, but to give.
You set the example of how we should live.
You cured the sick. You healed the lame.
The mouths of the mute spoke words once again.

The miracles done would not open their hearts.
You knew they wouldn’t right from the start.
You let it all happen. It had to be done.
It was your Father’s will for you to be shunned.

The people, they scourged you and spit in your face.
They mocked you and laughed at your Holy Grace.
You were nailed to a cross without having sinned.
You still asked your Father to forgive them.

You died for their sins, and you died for mine too.
You rose in three days to prove you were you.
You gave me new life by the blood that you shed.
The message you left was “God isn’t dead!”

In Heaven, you now sit at the Father’s right hand.
You’ve prepared for Believers a new “Promised Land.”
You will come once again to rescue those who believe.
And in Heaven, together, forever, we’ll live!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!