Jesus Died and the Dead were Given Life

As I read the Gospels about the day of the cross and resurrection day, I see God’s tragic poetry jump off the page. The irony of the last breaths of Jesus, given up to heal his murderers, to take the place of the guilty, to bring peace to his condemners…

This poem is like an abridged version of Luke 22-24 and Matthew 26-28. Calling out all the places where I see Jesus bringing the dead to life, even as they were taking his. That’s the Resurrection Power of Jesus and how his love conquers all, including sin and the grave.

A Resurrection Day Poem:

They plotted to kill him on Passover,

the day the Lamb’s blood was poured out

to protect God’s people from the destroyer.

They plotted to kill Jesus the day the Lamb died

to make death pass over God’s people.

The Blood of Christ, poured out for you.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

the day the Lord brought his people

out of Slavery, out of Bondage

They took Jesus captive

on the day He came to set God’s people free.

The Body of Christ, broken for you.

He eagerly longed to share

in the Passover with his disciples

And then prayed in Gethsemane

til he sweat drops of blood,

the Blood of Christ that gives us life.

Given over to darkness by the intimacy of a kiss,

He healed the ear of the man who came to kill him,

and the dead was given life.

Betrayed, blindfolded, beaten, mocked-

by those in darkness who came to kill his light,

and the blind were given sight.

Questioned, accused, and treated with contempt-

He brought friendship to Herod and Pilate

where there was once enmity and strife,

and the dead were given life.

He brought deliverance to guilty Barnabas

and was himself delivered into hands of the angry mob

Innocent man took the place of the guilty,

crucified with criminals on the cross

and asked God to forgive them all

welcoming the condemned into Paradise,

and the dead were given eternal life.

As he breathed his last, the sun’s light failed,

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

and the veil between man and the Holy of Holies was torn

and the earth shook and rocks split open

and the tombs opened and dead saints were raised to life

resurrected with Christ.

And the stone was rolled away from the grave

Jesus crucified, raised to life

Jesus who brings peace where there was strife,

who gives the blind their sight

who welcomes the guilty into Paradise.

The Innocent Lamb, the Blood of Christ,

poured out to bring the dead to life.

The Body of Christ, the Bread of Life

broken so you can be whole.

-danita jenae

Hungry for more?

Want to hear more about God’s unfathomable love for you? Here are more posts on Jesus’ sacrifice and the costly gift of our salvation:

• Our relationship with Christ instead of a religious practice.
• How we can’t earn salvation; it’s a gift!
• How God isn’t angry with you; He loves you dearly.
• The thieves on the cross and a prayer to ask Jesus into your life.

Happy Resurrection Day!