The New Jubilee

He came quietly on a star filled night

All consuming power, but he would not fight

A vulnerable baby born into poverty

Escaping to Egypt to avoid genocides atrocities

He grew up in a lineage of gentiles, pagans, Jews

Abraham, David, Rahab, just to name a few

The masses longed for him to overthrow the Empire

He chose something more difficult, to overthrow sin and strengthen the tired

In his thirties, he taught, healed and loved the forgotten

Welcoming untouchables, the broken, the misbegotten

Defendant of the rejected

Voice of the neglected

Children protected

Loving perfected

His love was inclusive, for all to come

On a criminal’s cross he painfully succumbed

Religion rejected him, he was too much a threat

To the power structure he did upset

He came to give life, to unlock the key

Not to condemn but set people free

He took on our sin so that we could live

His body broken so we could forgive

To the brokenhearted and poor

He opened wide heaven’s door

A healing salve to all who mourn

His kingdom come, the veil was torn

A crown of thorns mocking his mission

Nail pierced hands beaten beyond recognition

Turned over his rights, he gave up heaven

So we could be free of fear and transgressions

Rejected, refugee, slandered, false arrest

Fully human, fully God, full emotions he gave his best

The Father’s spirit was on him

Chosen and anointed

Removing shame

Replacing blame

Rejecting fame

YOU are why he came

Rejuvenated beauty

Eyes that can see

Prisoners set free 

It’s the new Jubilee