Extra! Extra! Read all about it! (Easter Sunday poem)

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Three days ago, Jesus Christ died as a culprit.

Hung on the cross, everyone saw it,

But today, the news is buzzing, some are in awe of it,

The word on the street is he's no longer there!

The stone's rolled away and he's headed elsewhere!

The reports are still sketchy, but this just in,

There's a theory around, and here's the spin.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Disciples steal body so no-one can flout it!

They came in the night, overpowered the guard

I guess with some kind of rock?  Well, they must've hit him hard.

You say there were two of Rome's finest and best?

Well, I can't see his followers overcoming that test

This all sounds quite fishy, but this just in,

Another theory and here's the spin.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Someone else stole the body in a freak breakout, it

Looks like they, again, overpowered the soldiers,

Who was it?  Some're saying the public, others the scholars,

Others still for some profit, others for boasting rights,

It all sounds too wooly and hardly airtight

Hang on, a reporter's just handed this in,

Another theory is here and this is the spin.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

He never actually died, it was a stunt, just check out it!

Those nail marks weren't fatal and that spear was a fake

They swapped out the body while he was awake

But, wait, the priests and Romans recorded it all

In fact, they instigated this all, I recall,

That doesn't make sense, but wait, this just in,

Another theory my friends, and here is the spin.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Disciples didn't really see Jesus, they just thought it,

All that grief and that loss must have clouded their mind,

After all, he was dead, they couldn't just find

Him all up and about in the garden nearby

Something in this story is definitely awry,

They must have mistaken another for him,

Well that's all we have time for, the theories are in.

The theories are in, now which do you choose?

I'd offer my opinion, but I'm only the news.

The facts are, he died, was buried and now he is missing

The one theory left, and that's a theory, I'm stressing

Is that he's actually living and walking around!

Some people're reporting he has actually been found!

Well, we're signing off there, what theory do you choose?

What if this was real? Well, wouldn't that be some news?

That day

That day

That day,

The sun rose but with a reddish tinge

The day knew that soon it would cringe,

Break down and weep at the spectacle there,

Join with the others to stop and stare,

Did anyone care?

That day,

When the God man walked up that hill,

Shouldering more than was His fill,

The weight of the world and all

That had ever been done by one and all

And we stood there, enthralled.

That day,

When some stood aghast to see,

This man from eternity

Stumble up to that cursed tree

Knowing he could have chosen at any time to flee

But staying there for you and for me.

That day,

When they hammered his hands to that beam,

Shattering silence as they heard him scream,

Lifted and fastened aloft,

The smell of sweat and blood starting to waft,

As the torn man spluttered and coughed.

That day,

When the crowd cried his very death,

And all that he had was a barely snatched breath

Black clouds growing, the crowd, insults throwing,

Not realising they're owing and yet so unknowing,

While this man was, forgiveness, bestowing.

That day,

When the God man looked up high,

To where his Father reigned over you and I,

But there was no reply, no relief, no goodbye,

For with such sin, they could not look eye to eye

And its punishment, to die.

That day,

As a thief mocked him from one side

The other, humbly hanging by,

The crowd stood spitting, yelling, cursing from every place,

As the blood and pain trickled down his tear-stained face,

He made a choice that crossed all time and space.

That day,

When 'It is finished!' was his cry

While all creation screamed, 'This must be a lie!'

And the sun was blotted out from the sky,

As the whole earth shook that he could die,

A way was made open for you and I.

That day,

The barrier curtain was torn in two

That you and I could walk on through

Into that place we could never stand,

His presence, as renewed woman and renewed man,

Welcome, knowing we're no long banned.

That day,

As the God-man gave his life and bowed his head,

He did not just lie there dead,

No, he'd broken every power of sin that binds,

Our weary souls and freed our minds

And his sacrifice reminds.

That this day,

The curse that binds you has been broken,

A better way, my friend, is spoken,

Life awaits you, freedom, it is yours!

He beckons you walk through this brand new door.

Will you bow the knee and see what he's in store for you?

My friends, have you forgotten?

My friends, have you forgotten

That your sins are forgiven?

That the father looks on you with love

As a dead man who is risen?

My friends, have you forgotten

That yours sins' price has been paid?

That everything you've ever done

Is forever with Him, laid?

My friends, have you forgotten

That your efforts are not enough?

That only Jesus choice for you

That choice he made in love?

My friends, have you forgotten

That there's no more to be done?

That all he did's enough for you

Your sins covered, every one!

My friends, have you forgotten

That relationship you share

With the mighty God, your holy King,

And that peace you have found there?

My friends, have you forgotten

The freedom his forgiveness brings?

You are no longer slave to those old things

But a child of the one, true King

My friends, will you surrender

To the forgiveness he's given to you

That you might freshly know the sufficient peace

Of the God who chose to die for you?

My friends, it's time to remember

That our God calls you his

Not through your efforts, no my friend

But by his holy holy kiss.

By the blood he shed upon the cross

By the love he poured out there

By the cost he paid to being you home

In paradise and with Him there.

He offered you forgiveness

and if you turned to him and confessed all

He calls you unreservedly and for all time, His

And foe you, he's officer all.

My friends, if you are His today,

You stand forgiven to the core.

If not, his forgiveness waits for you.

What are you waiting for?