Who Is This?

He spoke and endless stars appeared,
In swirling galaxies they drew;
Spoke more, and earth and seas were reared,
Next trees and streams, and beasts all grew.
Then spoke, and of His kind man breathed
The breath of God and life received;
And looking on man mused with bliss,
Amazed in wonder… Who is this?  

The vast expanse, it’s grandeur dimmed;
The apex of creation’s weal,
Had fallen deep and faithless sinned,
There blinded to that wonder feel.
Horrific Crime at heaven aimed,
Yet only earth would reap the stain,
Now worshiped rocks with mind amiss,
Nor cared, nor wondered, Who is this?

The maker of this vast array,
An infant in a manger wept;
As messengers announced His Day
To Shepherds as some sheep they kept,
To hated be, and yet for these,
Their future restoration sees,
And in their place of judgment sits
Who stand by wond’ring, Who is this?

First looking on with grave dismay,
Disciples view but dark defeat;
Where heaven staged its grand display
Of grace and justice signing peace.
The righteous blood they could not bleed
Had cleansed the souls that could not heed;
Now know His love like never missed,
Yet joy still asking, Who is this!

Now Who is this, that wrecks all hell,
Where chains of death lay severed round;
Who death defies, and where they fell,
To touch with Life the lost and found?
Their death lay slain, and cannot rise,
While they in Him, the Victor’s prize,
Cannot stay down, by mercy kissed,  
Now tenfold wonder, Who is this?

For when their maker hung in shame
All theirs, to bear Himself alone,
None understood the vict’ry gained,
But mourned before the tomb of stone.
And some thus wonder to this day.
While saints in worship’s wonder stray.
Which way to wonder, reader midst
This time of trial, Who is this?

Charles Church, 12/25/2023 10:00 AM