Is the Cross yet Green?

is the cross yet green? (Luke 23:31)

full of youth, full of its first fruited love

is there long-lingering life within its boughs

its branches?

is the cross yet green?

full of fat dripping as oil pressed under stone’s pressure?

is the cross yet green?

leafed profusely full as leaves for the healing of the nations?

the cross of Life

whittled from wood

shouldered by Jesus

embedded at Golgatha’s death gate

the cross of life

born from death

raised by God the Father

raised by Holy Spirit

the Son

life from the cross

the same yesterday, today, tomorrow

from Life, from the cross, from Christ comes

the solution to every issue

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2022

Upon This Rock

“Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb;

and you shall strike the rock,

and water will come out of it,

so that the people may drink.”

And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. (Exodus 17:6)

Moses, a type of Lord Jesus

stood upon the rock,

the rock of the desert—Horeb,

a place in the wilderness

Lord Jesus stood upon Golgotha—the place of the skull, (John 19:17)

of the head, the head of death

as Moses was the head of a people led by God

thirsty in the wilderness

so is Lord Jesus the head of a people (Ephesians 1:22)

thirsty for Him in a desert place

as the rock was struck by the rod of authority

the rod of Moses

so was Lord Jesus struck by the wrath of God

Who is the Authority

as He is the Rock, stricken (Isaiah 53:4-6)

so He also gave up His life of His own free will (John 10:18)

as water coursed out of the rock to quench the thirst

of a people

relying only upon the mercy and compassion of God

so too did water flow from the side of Jesus

from the cross, upon the rock, the skull of death

even from the Rock, the Lord

when soldier’s spear did pierce His side (John 19:34)

because of the mercy and compassion of God

upon all those who would turn to Him

as the water provided renewed life to a parched people

so too does Lord Jesus provide renewed life, life everlasting, life eternal (John 3:16)

to those who drink from Him

because He lives

He is the source of living water (John 4:10)

the water that will not cease

as Moses obeyed the Lord in the sight of all the people

so too was Lord Jesus lifted up

before all people (John 12:32)

in obedience to God the Father (Philippians 2:8)

upon the rock

the Lord overcame death by trampling death

raised to life (Mark 16:6)

He, the Rock, the Cornerstone of the Church (Matthew 21:42)

which shall not be overcome by death’s own darkness (Psalm 23:4)

neither those hidden in Him

the rod of Christ protects His own

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

His obedience, His death, His rod, His life, His people,

all His

upon this Rock

“it is finished”

—last words—lasting words

spoken from the rock of Calvary—the skull,

now overcome

living words

from the Rock, the Rock of life

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2022

The World Grew Dark

the world grew dark when Jesus died

upon His cross,

crucified

the world remained

uncertain

darkness within the grave grown dim

but on the third day

He rose

undecayed and whole

in the flesh

and we His people

remember

His Light—

our hope

living within us yet

the Power over death

the Power to repent

the Power to change what satan did

Spirit of Jesus

Spirit of Christ

Light of the world

within us all

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2022

The Way of Peace

Peace, Peace, Peace

the angels proclaimed

Words of God to

sons of men

lowly shepherds watching fleeced flocks

upon Bethlehem’s bread bought hills by night

God’s glory glowed around

Peace, Peace, Peace

the angels proclaimed

between God and man

between men and Maker

here must first begin

before liberty’s lantern lifts again,

as a mother is agonized with birth

afterward forgets the pain

for the joy of a child gained

for Ichabod has conveyed his calling card

Peace Peace Peace

the angels proclaimed

yet remains

“Abide in Me”

security in the home, marriage, pocket

harmony of lives lived nearby

wholeness of body

soundness of mind

Peace in this life and

Peace at death

Peace for today

and Peace for tomorrow

Peace for you

and Peace for your children

Peace, Peace, Peace

the angels proclaimed

the Babe, born for us, the Son of God, the One and Only Prince of Peace

available to all, to any person, to any nation

who calls out this prayer

“Help me Jesus! Help me!”

Peace Peace Peace

“Peace I leave you,

My peace I give you;

not as the world gives,

do I give to you.

do not let your hearts be troubled

nor in fear”

(Luke 2:14; Isaiah 9:6; 1Samuel 4:21; John 14:27)

(C) Kelly Jadon 2022