The writing which follows was occasioned by an assignment in my Preaching
class last semester. We were told to compose and deliver a sermon on the
text of John 20:1-9, but to pretend as though it was to be preached to an
un-churched audience at a funeral service.
I was indecisive as to how I would thus present the passage, but at the last
minute I had an idea.
The following is my hasty attempt to simply adapt the text of John 20:1-9
into poetic form:
When the first of the week had come
Mary came visiting the tomb.
Though that morning ’twas not yet light,
discern-ed she a mysterious sight:
The great stone that had closed the cave
had by someone been taken away.
None but the strongest group of men
could have rolled it back again.
To John and Peter Mary ran
and said, “Some ruthless robbing band
of men has stolen our Lord from whence he lay,
and where they’ve gone I cannot say.”
John and Peter, when they heard,
were quite amazed and wondered
if this were true, and left with speed
to see if this were true indeed.
Both men were running, but the youth
outran Peter and reached the tomb.
But, peeking in, he was afraid
when saw he where the Lord was laid.
The braver one then did arrive—
Peter ventured him inside
and sure enough, the Lord was gone,
and in His place were folded cloths.
Then followed John and looked he too,
believing that the news was true.
But neither understood the thing,
although it was in their writings,
for a veil was yet upon their eyes
that Messiah from the dead must rise.
Atom 1.0
