The Lamb of God, continuing, thus said:
“David, the king of Israel, did speak
About the Christ, Yahweh’s Anointed One
That he, unto the grave, by which is called
Sheol, would not abandoned be, neither
Would his Holy One be left to decay[i]
Within its earthly confines, for he who
From Heaven’s shore where blessed spirits dwell
Where sin and death cannot their presence make,
Robs them and Sheol of their victory
Of which they thought was theirs, for now the Son
As sinless Lamb of God must rise to claim
His prize, for sin and death have not the power
To hold in their dark night one who has not
Committed any act of sin and shame
Which would blot out the light of Heaven’s realm
Wherein sits Yahweh who casts not his eyes
Upon the stain of sin and all who dwell
In its dark shadow. Do you understand
What I now say to you, for there is much
That I must say so that your minds and hearts
Within you may be set ablaze with truth
That from the realms of Paradise is sent.”
The two companions, listening to what
Was spoken to them, now did sense within
Their beings something strange as if a seed
Within their hearts had planted been, ready
To grow until truth, in its beauty fair
Would stand before them. Spoke the Lamb again:
“The psalmist speaks of One most excellent,
Whose lips have been adorned and anointed
With grace, for Yahweh has forever blessed
This Holy One, the Christ who lips speak of
Humility and truth and righteousness.[ii]
Did not the one in who you put your faith
And trust speak of these things as he went forth
Among his people to proclaim the way
Of righteousness, humility and truth,
To bring to their poor hearts the kingdom of
Yahweh, in showing them a way that is
More excellent and freed from shackles which
Did bind the Law, as was to Moses given,
By those who spoke in terms but literal
And lacking sense of spirit, blinding them
And those whom they did teach and yet still do,
To liberation from those legal chains?
Did not he who preached freedom from captives
Address Yahweh in terms of sonship when
In prayer before the grave where Lazarus
Was kept before his resurrection back
To Martha and Mary at Bethany?
Or speaking in the same familial terms
In stern rebuke of Pharasaical
Hypocrisy, shown for what it was worth?
Yet now the one who suffered at the hands
Of military might, and crucified,
And buried in a tomb which had not seen
Burial rites now rose up from the grave
At Yahweh’s hands, just as the psalmist spoke
Of the Anointed One ascending high
Taking with him those who until then had been
Held bound and captive in the depths of Sheol
Receiving from the right hand of Yahweh
Eternal gifts of life by which all they
Could in eternity and safety dwell.[iii]
Here is eternal life: to believe in
Yahweh and in the one whom He did send
To suffer, die and resurrected be.
Be not blinded by what you cannot see,
But open up the eyes of your own hearts
That inward truth may stir fire of belief
And lead you out of darkness into light.”
The two companions sensed a lifting of
The darkness that enshrouded their poor minds
As if to expect things beyond the realms
Of human thought and reasoning. The Lamb
Of God continued speaking as they walked:
“Despised and put to shame was he, the one
Who crucified was, scorned and much reviled,
For once again the psalmist spoke of him
As being given food with gall mixed in
And vinegar to quench his raging thirst.[iv]
In vain he called out to Yahweh that he
Be answered with salvation sure and true,
And from the mire be rescued lest he should
Sink down from the deep waters and from those
Who hated him. He cried that waters deep
Would not engulf or swallow him alive,
Nor that the pit o’er him should close its mouth.
Beseeched he that Yahweh should, in His love,
Turn to him, hiding not his face, and come
Near and him rescue, answering the cries
Of faithful servant, that he would redeem
Him from his foes, for he knew well of shame,
Disgrace and scorn which him did helpless leave.
With broken heart, he looked for sympathy
But found he none, nor comfort for his ills.
And yet he spoke of triumph in the end,
Despite pain and distress he found true peace
That came with faith, no situation which
Seemed insurmountable could quench the trust
In Yahweh. Therefore brothers you must take
As your exemplar he who suffered much
Which for your salvation he underwent,
Closer is he to you than you now know.”
Once more the two companions felt within
Their hearts a stirring which they had not felt
Until the journey which they had embarked
Upon, with stranger still unknown to them,
Their eyes perceiving human form but still
Their minds blinded until appointed time
When recognition would its due course take.
A further time the Lamb of God did make
Prophetic reference to Him, and said:
“David, high king and shepherd recognised
The Messianic kingship that would come
To bring truth and salvation to all those
Who call upon the name of Yahweh, for
Said he once more in psalms of his design,
That Yahweh did decree unto the Lord,
His Son, whom David recognised as his
Lord and master, to sit at His right hand
Until his enemies a footstool make
To be a footstool, ever subject to
Him who holds sway in Paradise the blessed.[v]
For even he who cried in agony
When crucified, and suffering countless darts
Of pain and torment, recognised the crown
Of righteousness that his reward would be.
And as Melchizedek, king of Salem,
Jerusalem the holy city where
Sits Yahweh now enthroned in people’s hearts
Which have to Him turned trusting in His love,
So is the one who suffered on the cross
As priest forever in the blest line of
Melchizedek is, king of Salem who
Did bless our father Abram, he who was
Founder of our great nation, and into
His hand were delivered his enemies.
Bread and wine did Melchizedek bring forth
Which in the Passover before his death
Did Christ, the Lamb of God, reckon unto
His body and his blood, a sacrifice
To take away the sins that blotted out
The presence of Yahweh from creation.
This one true, holy sacrifice for all
Fulfilling evermore the constant need
For offerings of sin at the altar
Within the Temple, now salvation is
Freely offered through this one sacrifice
Which took place these three days past on the hill
Of Calvary at Golgotha, no more
Are sacrifices necessary to appease
The wrath of Yahweh, for his Son is now
The expiation for the sins of all,
And who will sit forever at Yahweh’s
Right hand in majesty as Lord and King.
For he who was of reputation small
And insignificant has now become
The one who now is prominent among
His people and who now is risen far
Above all things, beyond mere human thought
And reason. Like the stone that the builders
Did reject as unworthy, of little
Importance or steadfastness did become
The stone whereby the building is secure,[vi]
Protected from the outer elements
Of wickedness and evil. As is like
The shepherd of the sheep inside the fold
Guarded and protected are they by him
Who fills the entrance to deter the wolf,
The serpent, Satan, from his savagery
And poisoned lies to harm and to destroy,
Mislead and cheat, for such is his poor lot
Whereby his fate is sealed. Be guarded by
The shepherd of your souls, the one who died
Upon the cross for in Him is the way,
The truth and life, the resurrection He
As was foretold by Him who has conquered
Sin and its consequences that do lead
To death and judgement, but those who believe
In the Good Shepherd shall rewarded be
In Paradise to spend eternity.
This Shepherd, he was born of lineage
Most royal, that of David, he who once
Did make inquiry as to why Yahweh
Did not in house majestic live and rule.
But Yahweh to his servant Nathan spoke
In that no building made by human hands
Would ever be required of Him who by
His own hands has created all things that
Give and support life, and who has no need
Of earthly dwelling, for from David would
Come royal personage, the Messiah
To rule all nations and to sit upon
The throne of David yet in human hearts[vii]
Would He hold sway to govern and direct
According to the will of Yahweh God
Commanding true allegiance and homage
As does befit a king, the psalmist now
Has his duty performed, much more do now
The prophets named speak of the One who came
Among his people, listen as I speak
Of Isaiah, and of the words that were
Given to him by Yahweh’s Spirit bold.
In future time established there will be
The kingdom of the Prince of Peace whereby
All nations will approach its lofty heights,
Supreme above all other kingdoms which
Before it will succumb and bow down low.
Justice and righteousness shall be the fruit
Of that eternal kingdom, whereby war
Shall be extinguished. Swords that kill and maim
Shall bring a harvest of mercy and love
And spears that in due time and diligence
Will hasten increase of the heavenly yield.[viii]
All peoples now will live as one upon
That mountain where true brotherhood resides
Eternal peace shall reign whereas the horns
Of war shall banished be, it has no place
In Yahweh’s kingdom where the light of life
From His bejewelled throne of gold shall stream
In endless rays of love and perfection
In which all peoples caught up in its sway
Enveloped will be, bound in gentle waves
That softly break upon the holy shores
Of Paradise, returning to their source
From whence they came yet outward journey make
Eternally to once again return
To break upon those golden crystal shores.
The love of Yahweh, constant boundless rays
Bring light and love, happy are they who walk
In this blessed state, in their eternal home.
And to this end, Yahweh therefore ordained
The coming of His Son, of virgin born
A vessel pure, but not of human seed
Conceived would He be, but from Yahweh’s power
The Holy Spirit, breaking human ties
To bring about deliverance from wrath
And tyranny, for in this holy state
Could Yahweh truly said to be among
His
people, through His Son, Immanuel.[ix]
[i] Ps 16:10
[ii] Ps 45:2
[iii] Ps 68:18
[iv] Ps 69:2
[v] Ps 110:1
[vi]Ps 118:22
[vii] Ps 132:11
[viii] Isa 2:4
[ix] Isa 7:14
Dominus-Iesus-est 