Your Poetry Dot Com - THE MAN FROM GALILEE

Nigh on two thousand years ago there lived upon this earth
Someone who changed the course of man, although of lowly birth.
His mother was a peasant girl and Mary was her name,
Her husband was a carpenter, but just of local fame.
As He grew up and started work He learned his father's trade,
But He knew He could not go on as plans for Him were made.

When but a boy He'd often go into Jerusalem.
There, in the temple, meet wise men and sit and talk with them.
The wise men knew He would be great and they did all agree
That He knew more than all of them, this boy from Galilee.
When He reached thirty years of age He left His family.
A wandering minister became the man from Galilee.

He preached to people near and far and miracles performed.
He did so many wondrous things and thousands he reformed.
He walked among the raging waves and calmed the stormy sea,
The multitude all marvelled at the man from Galilee.
Unto the blind, He gave them sight and made the lame to walk
And to the deaf, He let them hear and made the dumb to talk.

He never went to college and never bought a home.
Most of his journeys were on foot and many miles he'd roam.
He never even wrote a book or had a family
Had no credentials but himself, the man from Galilee.
He preached the doctine he believed and taught men to do good.
He tried to help them lead a life of love and brotherhood.

Twelve honest men stood by their friend, through trouble and through strife
All knowing that sometime, somewhere, for Him they'd give their life.
But then, as now, time rolled on by and three years quickly passed.
For Him there was no turning back, the losing dice were cast.
One night, when death was drawing near, He called His friends around
To tell them He would soon be gone and there was not a sound.

He broke the bread and gave to them and they all understood,
This was His body, and the wine a symbol of His blood.
He told them He would be betrayed by one within their midst,
But He would not say who it was although they did insist.
Chief priests and scribes and elders too were in conspiracy,
And plans were made for capturing the man from Galilee.

One of the twelve was bribed by them with silver, it's been said,
And thirty pieces was the price put on his Master's head.
So, after supper, they set out and reached Gethsemane.
With heavy hearts they walked that night for what must be, must be.
Then, as they reached the garden, He asked them if they'd stay
And keep a watch while He went down upon His knees to pray.

When He returned they were asleep, for heavy were their eyes.
He said the hour was now at hand and bid his friends arise.
He turned to Peter and He said "Although you have no vice,
This night, before the cock shall crow, you shall deny me thrice."
Then happened what he had foretold, for in Gethsemane
Judas Iscariot betrayed his friend from Galilee.

The soldiers came and led him off and unto Pilate went.
There was unrest amongst the crowd, their feelings they did vent.
Then Peter, who had followed them, appeared upon the scene
And three times questioned Peter was, if with this man he'd been.
But he denied all knowledge of the man within the dock,
And has he spoke, he heard the sound, the crowing of the cock.

The angry crowd yelled for the blood of Him from Galilee,
Though Pilate found no fault with Him, he set Barabbas free.
The mob then turned hysterical and Pilate just gave in.
A losing battle he had fought, then threw the towel in.
The soldiers took the captive out amidst the mocking scorns
And then it was, upon His head, they placed a crown of thorns.

The thorns cut deep into His head and blood ran down His face,
And as the cross got heavier He couldn't stand the pace.
Then Simon stepped out from the crowd and took the cross on high.
Up to the top of Calvary, where He was doomed to die.
The cross was placed upon the ground, upon Mount Calvary,
And on the cross the soldiers laid the man from Galilee.
The stakes went through His flesh and bones and sunk into the wood
The pain was great, and beads of sweat, upon His forehead stood.

They hailed Him as "King of the Jews" this laughing, mocking crowd,
And as they gambled for his robe they heard Him cry out loud.
He asked His father why He had forsaken Him that day.
Just then His head fell to one side for He had passed away.
Although two thousand years have passed His memory lingers on
And like the twelve, who followed Him, Still others follow on.
There is no other stamped His mark on us as much as He
For, even yet, they're following the man from Galilee.

Copyright:- Edward Bamforth April 1975.

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