Wednesday 24 March 2010

Today isn't for the Faint Hearted


Christmas Is Really For the Children, by Steve Turner

Christmas is really
for the children.
Especially for children
who like animals, stables,
stars and babies wrapped
in swaddling clothes.
Then there are wise men,
kings in fine robes,
humble shepherds and a
hint of rich perfume.

Easter is not really
for the children
unless accompanied by
a cream filled egg.
It has whips, blood, nails,
a spear and allegations
of body snatching.
It involves politics, God
and the sins of the world.
It is not good for people
of a nervous disposition.
They would do better to
think on rabbits, chickens
and the first snowdrop
of spring.

Or they’d do better to
wait for a re-run of
Christmas without asking
too many questions about
what Jesus did when he grew up
or whether there’s any connection.

3 comments:

Fred Shope said...

Thanks for this. It's unfortunate that there are so many who don't ask the questions.

Steven Carr said...

That picture of Jesus really brought home to me the words of Paul in Romans 13.

'For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.

Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.

For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.'

Those words speak to me and nobody can think on those words without bringing to mind what happened to Paul's Lord and Saviour.

Steven Carr said...

'It has whips, blood, nails,
a spear and allegations
of body snatching.'

The first Gospel was written by somebody who knew that Christians had been battered for decades by allegations of body snatching.

Yet he had the honesty not to mention any guard at the tomb, and to explain that people knew the tomb could be accessed if they only had some big strong men (perhaps fishermen?) who could roll away the stone.