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Jesus Wept
| Open Poetry #48 |
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Jesus Wept |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana 
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 After I posted the poem, Johnny Penn Butler and the response I received from it, I decided to post this which was written five years ago. It relates, if only to confirm that "the question" was on my mind back then. Actually the question has been on my mind many more years that that, but this is as far back as I can justify my claim. Jesus wept. There is that scripture in the Bible. Concerning the death of Lazarus. About grief untold. Raising the dead. Jesus wept. I know He did Learned about it in Sunday School. The world wasn't so different back then. There was evil and sinfulness, that is why Jesus paid us that visit, to save us from our sins. He paid a dear price for this act of kindness. It did not work. They took Him, strung Him up on a cross on a hill called Golgotha. He suffered for us. Suffered badly. It was the price He wanted to pay. Even on the cross He forgave. Saved a thief hanging beside Him, told him . . . "Today you will be with me in paradise." He forgave His murderers "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." That did not work, either. The world has progressed(?) for the worse. Each generation, since that momentous day, has raced to out-evil itself. Today, in the time of this year, we stand on the precipice of a sheer cliff of wrongdoing. We try humanity's patience. Have become desensitized. School shootings, school murders, cannot shock us. But you say, you are abhorred that someone could . . . You really aren't though. The daily dose of violence on TV, Barbie-doll anchors never miss a beat tell of horrendous crimes smile, pass the shtick to the goofy weatherman. We sit. We watch. Turn to our spouses, we say, "I just don't know what the world is coming to." We don't mean that. On the world stage. Madmen rule. I know, there have always been madmen. But not so many with their fingers on the nuclear thing. We send people to Washington, trusting they will do the right thing, for America. They don't give a tinkers-damn, folks. They lie to get there, and when they do things we don't like, we act like we get upset. But we don't really. We know these people They are us. Jesus wept. At least I believe He would if He were still among us. ©May 29, 2007 / Jerry Pat Bolton ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
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| © Copyright 2012 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
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ebonygirl Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000California U.S.A |
"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." But we do know what we do and choose to do it anyway. Nodding my head with you JP. Ms. E |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
this runs along the lines of what I have been thinking lately... I have been refamiliarizing myself with the people in the Bible, the great stories that teach lessons...the seven deadly sins, the ten commandments, etc. I have always believed that Jesus weeps, and so do angels. great post today! |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Don't you just know it, Ms. E, we know, we do it . . . Lust-'R-Us . . .Appreciate the comments, always . . . ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Not a bad thing what you are doing, PS, even if you are not a christian there are good lessons to be learned in the Bible. The Golden Rule being the cream of the crop as far as I'm concerned. Thank you for being here. ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
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Startime1955 Senior Member
since 2012-04-22
Posts 1072Alberta, Canada |
I wept to read this...its truth is powerful...I fear for mankind...great writing...*BIG HUGS* *may our dreams ever be magical* |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Karen, I hate to say it, but you are absolutely correct in your assessment. We are falling off the cliff . . . ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
He he you love this stuff. Caution on making statements before researching them. According to Greek scholar W. E. Vine, stauros′ “denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake. On such malefactors were nailed for execution. Both the noun and the verb stauroō, to fasten to a stake or pale, are originally to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed cross.” The Imperial Bible-Dictionary says that the word stauros′ “properly signified a stake, an upright pole, or piece of paling, on which anything might be hung, or which might be used in impaling a piece of ground.” The dictionary continues: “Even amongst the Romans the crux (Latin, from which our cross is derived) appears to have been originally an upright pole.” Thus, it is not surprising that The Catholic Encyclopedia states: “Certain it is, at any rate, that the cross originally consisted of a simple vertical pole, sharpened at its upper end.” There is another Greek word, xy′lon, that Bible writers used to describe the instrument of Jesus’ execution. A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament defines xy′lon as “a piece of timber, a wooden stake.” It goes on to say that like stauros′, xy′lon “was simply an upright pale or stake to which the Romans nailed those who were thus said to be crucified.” In line with this, we note that the King James Version reads at Acts 5:30: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree [xy′lon].” Other versions, though rendering stauros′ as “cross,” also translate xy′lon as “tree.” At Acts 13:29, The Jerusalem Bible says of Jesus: “When they had carried out everything that scripture foretells about him they took him down from the tree [xy′lon] and buried him.” In view of the basic meaning of the Greek words stauros′ and xy′lon, the Critical Lexicon and Concordance, quoted above, observes: “Both words disagree with the modern idea of a cross, with which we have become familiarised by pictures.” In other words, what the Gospel writers described using the word stauros′ was nothing like what people today call a cross. Appropriately, therefore, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures uses the expression “torture stake” at Matthew 27:40-42 and in other places where the word stauros′ appears. Similarly, the Complete Jewish Bible uses the expression “execution stake.” hang in there! Eric |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Haha!! Picky.Picky.Picky. Yeah, I love this stuff, and truth or nay, it will ALWAYS be a cross to me. That was preached to me continually at the First Baptist Church, Taylor, Arkansas . . . circa 1950's ... Gotta love it!!!!! ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ [This message has been edited by JerryPat2 (07-04-2012 09:28 PM).] |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Even on the cross He forgave. Saved a thief hanging beside Him, told him . . . "Today you will be with me in paradise." He forgave His murderers "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." And we still don't... *sigh* Excellent, thought-provoking write, JP! |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
No, we don't, suthern. Thank you for check this out, it is very much appreciated. ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Wow, this said a mouthful, JP. I love the clear distinction you see in what people say, as opposed to what they do. When, I "see" the world today I want to weep. How could Jesus not? He sees not only what's going on, but know the motivation behind every little act. Glad you dug this out. Michael |
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
you take a hard look and then you say the hard truths like no other Jerry. Lori  |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Thank you for stopping by, Lori. ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
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luminosity Senior Member
since 2005-11-18
Posts 813 |
read this last week, could not decide how to reply... He is amoung us, in each who invites him and yes, I feel the sorrow, His and mine when I see what this world is becoming... powerful commentary |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Glad you decided to reply to this poem, luminosity, thank you. ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
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