Jesus Wept

[PrinceMyshkin]

Says Moses to Jesus,
“In the future it will seem
as if we lived next door
to each other on Bible Street!”

“And yet,” says Jesus, we lived
in such different times,
which dictated who
and what we would be.”

“But we were always,” Moses answers,
“what we were meant to be:
saviours, brothers.”

“No,” Jesus says, “you saved
one people from another.
I tried to save all of them
from themselves.”

“He who saves one man,”
quotes Moses from a later text,
“it is as if he has saved the entire world.”

And Jesus wept
for the one among those he had saved
who remained true to himself,
an unrepentant sinner.

[Sweets America]

It is difficult for me to comment on this because I know so little about religion. (right now anyway, I feel like I know so little about everything...) but I can say that I love your title. I usually do not always like your titles, but this one bears emotion.

I am not sure how to understand the last stanza, but I just love it. It makes me so sad, for some reason.

[Pendragon]

I know I wept when I read your poem... The struggles of a poor, virtually unknown minister, no big church with choir, no real backing by a large denomination, just a Bible and a calling and a willingness to try to help whomsoever will since my ordination in 1982... the illness taking me down in 1994 while a full time on the road evangelist and working a full time job as well... the disability... the shunning... the excommunication... the finding a new pathway to try to reach people anyway... whatever it is that drives me on, Jerry... that won't let me give up... that's as strong as your conviction that He's not out there anywhere... I weep, my friend, for I feel your poem so deep inside of me that it hurts, and I wish I were there to give you a hug right now... say nothing...just give you a big hug... Love you, mon ami...

Dale

[PrinceMyshkin]

Whatever the merits of my poem and whether you understood it as I intended (for I'm not altogether sure what I intended by it...), your response is a poem in itself, and I hope will be read by many.

[ampoule]

I am not sure what you intended by it either but "Jesus wept" is famous for being the shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35. It is when Jesus wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus.
It also brings to mind a song I love singing during this time of Lent, a round, When Jesus Wept. If anyone would like to hear the tune you may listen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N0YjANgTBs&feature=related
It is hauntingly beautiful.

When Jesus wept the falling tear in mercy flowed beyond all bound;
When Jesus groaned, a trembling fear seized all the guilty world around.
Words and music by William Billings

[kiz_paws]

I loved this poem for a lot of reasons. The dialogue nature of it, the idea of a conversation of that level between two heavy hitters (Biblically speaking), and that last verse really moved me.

As always, your writing has found a place in my heart. :)

[AuntShecky]

And Jesus wept
for the one among those he had saved
who remained true to himself,
an unrepentant sinner.



Opens up an interesting avenue of thought that the unrepentant sinner still ranks among those whom he had saved!

Loved the colloquial dialogue in this one too!

I give it a big thumbs up.

By the bye, did you ever hear the anecdote about a guy sitting on a curb and crying his eyes out. Jesus himself strolls by and asks, "Why are you weeping, my son?" So the guy says, "You see, Lord, I am a writer."

So Jesus sat down with the man and cried with him.

[Check your PM for a quick PS. (Give me a minute to send it though.)]

[firefangled]

An interesting poem and statement. I've always thought it would be required to be true to oneself to be saved by any standard.

[PrinceMyshkin]

An interesting poem and statement. I've always thought it would be required to be true to oneself to be saved by any standard.

You've hit on an underlying intention I had. In fact I deliberated writing "Jesus rejoiced" but shrank from it on the grounds that it might be a cheap shot.

[NikolaiI]

Human interpretations of the divine are always cheap shots, or rather-- brutish and unintelligent.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Human interpretations of the divine are always cheap shots, or rather-- brutish and unintelligent.

Nikolai, I could not disagree with you more vehemently. Assuredly, human interpretations of the divine - especially negative ones - are sometimes "cheap, brutish or unintelligent," but a) ecstatic interpretations of the divine are sometimes nothing but wish fulfillment and b) Divine interpetrations or dictates for humanity are sometimes self-fulfiling (for the Divine), immoral or ludicrous.

[symphony]

I cant seem to relate to this... I have read parts of the new testament, but i know nothing of the old testament. Does that have to do anything with me not understanding it completely(particularly that last stanza)? Or am i just plain dumb? :confused:
Mind explaining a bit, Uncle Jer? :(


Human interpretations of the divine are always cheap shots, or rather-- brutish and unintelligent.
Erm... i'm really feeling dumb right at this moment but, is it not human interpretation that makes "divinity" 'divine'?

[PrinceMyshkin]

I cant seem to relate to this... I have read parts of the new testament, but i know nothing of the old testament. Does that have to do anything with me not understanding it completely(particularly that last stanza)? Or am i just plain dumb? :confused:
Mind explaining a bit, Uncle Jer? :(

The OT doesn't figure deeply in this. All you need to know of it is that 'God' appointed Moses to lead the Israelies out of Egypt, where they had been enslaved (and later was summoned to receive the tablets with the Ten Commandments).

As for the last stanza, which I had contemplated beginning with "Jesus rejoiced" my intent was to say that there was (at least) one man who chose NOT to be saved. Whether or not that is to his credit is up to you.



Erm... i'm really feeling dumb right at this moment but, is it not human interpretation that makes "divinity" 'divine'?

That is (presumably) your secular interpretation (and mine), but those who believe in a divinity would no doubt say that they believe in it because it is of their profound conviction, and even of their experience, that it exists, and that they interpret its nature & wishes as best they can according to what theologians have written & their own understanding (or wishes).

[Pendragon]

Please, People! Let us not allow Jerry's lovely poem turn this thread into the Religious Forum! This is still the poetry forum!

Had you seen this poem from The Devil's Dictionary, Jerry?

I Dreamed I stood upon a hill and lo!
The godly multitudes walked to and fro
Beneath, in Sabbath garments fitly clad,
With pious mien, appropriately sad,
While all the church bell made a solemn din—
A fire-alarm to those who lived in sin.
Then saw I gazing thoughtfully below,
With tranquil face, upon that holy show
A tall, spare figure in a robe of white,
Whose eyes diffuse a melancholy light.
“God keep you, stranger.” I exclaimed. “You are
No doubt {your habit shows it) from afar;
And yet I entertain the hope that you,
Like these good people, are a Christian too.”
He raised his eyes and with a look so stern
It made me with a thousand blushes burn
Replied—his manner with disdain was spiced:
“What! I a Christian? No, indeed! I’m Christ.”

Ambrose Bierce, written as G.J.

[PrinceMyshkin]

I Dreamed I stood upon a hill and lo!
The godly multitudes walked to and fro
Beneath, in Sabbath garments fitly clad,
With pious mien, appropriately sad,
While all the church bell made a solemn din—
A fire-alarm to those who lived in sin.
Then saw I gazing thoughtfully below,
With tranquil face, upon that holy show
A tall, spare figure in a robe of white,
Whose eyes diffuse a melancholy light.
“Go keep you, stranger.” I exclaimed. “You are
No doubt {your habit shows it) from afar;
And yet I entertain the hope that you,
Like these good people, are a Christian too.”
He raised his eyes and with a look so stern
It made me with a thousand blushes burn
Replied—his manner with disdain was spiced:
“What! I a Christian? No, indeed! I’m Christ.”

Ambrose Bierce, written as G.J.

May I amend this ever so slightly, Pen?

I Dreamed I stood upon a hill and lo!
Those upon whom freedom did bestow
The power of loving one and all
Approached me, walking proud and tall.

“Of what denomination are you,” I asked then.
“We are of the tribe called women and men...”

[AuntShecky]

Human interpretations of the divine are always cheap shots, or rather-- brutish and unintelligent.

It should never cease to amaze folks that we take a shot at interpreting the divine at all. There is so little evidence to go on! All we have are a sheaf highly suspect ancient manuscripts written by a vast number of scholars separated by several centuries, each contributor with his own hidden -- and I do mean hidden!-- agenda. All we have are these Scriptures( the Holy Bible) plus our own
limited imaginations. Some theories generated by the imagination can be extremely valuable, elegant and intelligent, but don't blame them if others might seem cheap, brutish and unintelligent.

[Pendragon]

May I amend this ever so slightly, Pen?

I Dreamed I stood upon a hill and lo!
Those upon whom freedom did bestow
The power of loving one and all
Approached me, walking proud and tall.

“Of what denomination are you,” I asked then.
“We are of the tribe called women and men...”

Certainly, Jerry. It was a satire to begin with, by a great cynic, and I am ashamed to say that he had reason for his cynicism in his day and you have even greater reason for yours. But do not miss the few pearls among the swine as you search the world's great trough... http://www.desktopsmiley.com/dl/34995410/f/26160747.gif

[PrinceMyshkin]

Certainly, Jerry. It was a satire to begin with, by a great cynic, and I am ashamed to say that he had reason for his cynicism in his day and you have even greater reason for yours. But do not miss the few pearls among the swine as you search the world's great trough... http://www.desktopsmiley.com/dl/34995410/f/26160747.gif

On the other hand, I believe as A. Einstein did:


“I am a deeply religious nonbeliever - this is a somewhat new kind of religion. “