THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

Mohammed didn’t pay the price for my sin

Neither did Confucius, Krishna or Buddha

Moses shows us how far from Him we’ve been

Not so with the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

 

He lived a sinless life, which no one else had done

Said “If you want to see my father, just watch his only son.”

He walked on water, healed the sick and even raised the dead

“Build your house on the rock, not sifting sand,” he often said

 

There is no one else like Him on earth

No one counts or even comes close

The only one with no sin whose birth

Was announced by the heavenly host

 

Born in a stable, a manger for a cradle

Made a livin’ buildin’ tables and chairs

Everything was fine, til water turned to wine

Made everyone there, stop and stare

 

He didn’t recruit lots of nuts and fruits

But from the start, He sought

Those whose hearts

Were pure and true

 

His followers all were Jews

Zealots and fishermen, not a few

Two named James, one Andrew

And a tax man named Matthew

 

Two named Simon, two named Judas

(and one of them betrayed him)

A down and outer, a renowned doubter

(Took quite a lot to persuade him)

 

John the beloved and Philip too

And let’s not forget Bartholomew

Twelve in all, like the twelve tribes

(Quite a surprise, who knew?)

 

He came to save our sons and daughters

Came to proclaim the Good News

He claimed El Elyon was His father

No one else could fill his shoes

 

He was tempted in the desert

For 40 days, he ate no food

Satan said “Make some bread.”

He quoted scripture too

 

He was baptized by his cousin

The Spirit flew down like a dove

A voice like thunder, made us wonder

“Listen to my son whom I love.”

 

Started off his three year ministry

He healed the sick and the lame

His life and death changed history

He wasn’t after fortune or fame

 

He fed five thousand souls

Who came out to hear him preach

With a few fish and some loaves

If he did that these days, he’d be impeached

 

He took a ride in a fishing boat

And immediately fell asleep

A furious storm soon arose

But he was still counting sheep

 

His men cried out “we’re going to drown.

Only by you can we be saved.”

“You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

Then He rebuked the wind and waves

 

The storm had passed. They were amazed and asked

What kind of man is this? Even the wind and waves

Know He’s the one who saves.

And they praised His name at last

 

He walked on water and raised the dead

Called God his father, ate secret bread

A few more tricks and years

In the garden, blood mixed with tears

 

Betrayed by a friend, now the end has come

Prays “Not my will, but thine be done.”

Simon grabs a sword cuts off someone’s ear

Heals his ear, says “That’s not why I’ve come.”

 

A kangaroo court in the heat of the night

“His blood is on your hands, not mine.”

Better one man, than the whole wide nation.

Nailed spikes in His hands and feet and sealed our salvation

 

They nailed Him to the cross, He who knew no sin

The iniquity of us all was laid on Him

He died and was buried and, after three days, he rose

Talked to Mary who told Peter and the rest of those He chose

 

There’s a reason we call him Doubting Thomas

He had to put his finger in His hands and side

Blessed is he who believes His promise

Who doesn’t need to see with his eyes!

 

He appeared to His disciples in Galilee

To Simon Peter and the sons of Zebedee

It was starting to get serious on the Sea of Tiberias

They were convinced He was risen definitively

 

He told them to wait in the upper room

They soon would be filled with the Spirit

The spirit descended and “boom”

They spoke in tongues and everyone could hear it

 

Peter preached his first sermon

Five thousand Jewish searchers believed

It was difficult to determine

Before the church was besmirched and deceived

 

It was the early church and believers were of one accord and united

Hadn’t had their first outburst and they weren’t disjointed and divided

Comforted the grieving, gave food and clothes to those in need

Prayed without ceasing and showed love in word and deed

 

James was beheaded and Peter was freed from prison

But they were together and, thank Jesus, they were forgiven

They were crucified, flayed and eaten by lions

They died in many ways, but refused to deny Him

 

That’s the start of the story

The rest in written in His book

Listen to your heart, don’t ignore it

He’s worth a second look