Poem: Sabbath- Holy Saturday

A poetic Easter reflection

Rest it says but how can I

since what I’ve seen through weeping eye?

Bitter the taste, dark is the world.

Lost is my hope, hidden the pearl.

It is the Sabbath, no work supposed.

But what work can be done? He’s in burial clothes.

Mine was to believe, mine was to follow.

His was to conquer, all has proved hollow.

We gave our life, but what life is this?

What king could be conquered by a crowd and their hiss?

Each day brought new wonder, new worship and fear.

But this day new sorrow of which is no peer.

‘O come’ we cried, ‘I have come’ he said.

But his words have no meaning as he lay there dead.

Light outshines the darkness the teacher had taught,

But today his light’s swallowed by newly hewn rock.

Life claimed he to bring, but lifeless is he.

My hope hung on his words for my eternity.

A fool I’ve been proven, the mob was right,

so no rest for my eyes on this Sabbath night.

Back to the tutor my heart must now go.

The law which brings death’s all the life I will know.

The hill I’ll ascend as I walk past his grave

May tomorrow I find that forever Sabbath day.

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Rest I said, of the Sabbath I am Lord.

The conquering King yet wielding no sword.

The crowd they do hiss for my own know me not,

but they walk in the feet that my own script has plot.

In love I came but my life was the cost,

so I offered myself to their hearts full of frost.

Their will was expressed in the nails and the wood,

yet My will it was for there everlasting good.

Look at him there, dejected and drowned,

not knowing my cross precedes my crown.

This place I must come my word to fulfill

and to render the charges against them nil.

Their rest on this day was a shadow of mine

And now it is finished in the fullness of time.

Their yoke ended by rest but by rest mine begins

as the new wine is poured into new wineskins.

So tomorrow you rest for my work is complete,

and you’ll find in the grave only burial sheets.

I will rise and triumph over Satan and sin

and the everlasting Sabbath will tomorrow begin.