BLOW TO THE FACE OF CHRIST

 

JOHN 18

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question Me? Ask those who heard Me. Surely they know what I said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck Him in the Face. “Is this the way You answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike Me?” 24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

The Blow Upon His Holy Face

Before the court our Saviour stood,
The Lord of mercy, truth and good.
No angry answer did He give,
But showed us how God's saints should live.

An officer with cruel hand,
Struck Christ, Who at the trial did stand.
With quiet strength Jesus stood there,
Endured the shame with patient care

The Saviour spoke with quiet grace,
No trace of vengeance marked His Face:
"If I have spoken words untrue,
Then show the wrong that I did do.

"But if the truth My Lips have said,
Why strike My Face?" the Saviour pled.
Yet still He bore the shame and pain,
To cleanse our hearts from sin's dark stain.

How often little wounds we bear,
Of harsh rebuke or pain unfair.
Misjudged by those who cannot see,
Or burdened by adversity.

A thoughtless word, a cold disdain,
A hidden grief, a quiet pain;
These lesser crosses come our way,
To meet us in life's passing day.

Then let us bear them patiently,
With humble hearts and charity.
For every trial, great and small,
Can draw us nearer Christ, our All.

United to our suffering King,
Our tears become an offering;
For He who wore the crown of thorn,
Will raise our hearts to Heaven's morn.

O Lord, when trials fill our days,
Teach us to walk in all Your ways;
To bear each cross with faith and love,
Until we dwell with You above.

Image by CN Whittle

CANAANITE WOMAN OF FAITH

 

Canaanite woman of faith

A Canaanite came from afar,
Led onward by faith's guiding star;
She sought the Lord with earnest plea,
"Have mercy, Lord, O pity me!

"Great Son of David, hear my cry!
Do not, dear Lord, just pass me by;
My daughter suffers day and night,
Oppressed by evil's fearful might."

At first the Saviour answered not,
Yet still she trusted, faltered not!
She knelt before His gracious Face,
And sought His loving help and grace.

"My Lord," she said, "I know Your power;
Please help my child this very hour."
The Saviour drew her faith to light,
Till all could see its wondrous might.

"It is not right," the Master said,
"To take the children's daily bread,
And cast it to the dogs instead,"
Yet still in faith she bowed her head.

"Yes, Lord," she answered, meek and wise,
"Yet little dogs beneath arise;
To gather crumbs that gently fall,
From tables rich enough for all."

Then Jesus smiled with joy untold;
Her steadfast faith was strong as gold.
"O woman, great your faith has proved!
Your humble trust has deeply moved."

That very hour her child was free;
Christ triumphed o'er the enemy.
The Saviour's mighty word brought peace,
Thus all her daughter's pain did cease.

So when our trials seem too great,
Let faith, not fear, direct our fate.
For those who seek the Lord above
Will find His mercy, power and love.

Image by CN Whittle

WISE MEN FROM THE EAST

 

                                                                                    Freepik

MATTHEW 2

Wise Men from the East

2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler

Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The Wise Men and the King

From eastern lands the wise men came,
To seek the Child of holy fame;
A shining star through darkest night,
Led onward by its brilliant light.

Across the hills, through desert sand,
They journeyed to the promised Land;
With faithful hearts they sought God's Son,
The long-promised and Anointed One.

They found the Child with Mary there,
In quiet peace and humble care.
They bowed before His sacred Face,
Their hearts made glad by boundless grace.

Gold and resins they gifted there,
Precious gifts offered with loving care;
No earthly throne their eyes did meet,
Yet still they worshipped at Christ's Feet.

The little Jesus raised His eyes,
With love that reached beyond the skies;
He looked on each with tender grace,
A smile of mercy lit His face.

Though but a Child, He knew each heart,
And loved them from the very start.
The Light that shone from His great grace,
Shone brightly in that humble place.

So may we too seek our holy King,
And grateful hearts before Him bring.
May we be faithful to God's Son,
Who victory over death has won.

I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES

 

John 15

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. 11 I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that whatever you ask in My Name the Father will give you. 17 This is My command: Love each other.

The True Vine

O Jesus, Lord, the Living Vine,
Whose grace and love through branches shine;
Apart from You our strength must cease,
Our hearts know neither joy nor peace.

No branch can bloom by will alone,
Nor bear the fruit that heaven has known;
Your living sap, so rich and free,
Flows through the soul that trusts in Thee.

By faith we're grafted to Your Side,
In You we live, in You abide;
Your Spirit fills each willing heart,
And gives us grace to do our part.

Then clusters fair begin to grow,
As heaven's living blessings flow;
Like ripened grapes on autumn's vine,
They speak of love and life Divine.

Their sweetness feeds the faint with cheer,
Brings hope to hearts weighed down by fear;
They strengthen all who taste Your grace,
And draw the lost to seek Your Face.

So prune us, Lord, with loving hand,
To flourish by Your wise command;
Though pruning brings a passing pain,
It yields a richer, sweeter gain.

Until that glorious final day,
When earth and shadow fade away;
We'll hear the words our hearts have sought:
"My friends, well done - you lacked for naught."

No richer gift could we receive,
No greater joy could hearts conceive -
Than Christ to call us, face to Face,
His friends for all eternal days.

Images by CN Whittle 

ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST

 

St John the Evangelist

St. John, whose eagle soars on high,
With piercing gaze toward heaven's sky;
Beheld the Word, eternal, bright,
And led our hearts into God's light.

John journeyed close beside the Lord,
And treasured every sacred word.
John leaned upon the Saviour's breast,
There his seeking soul found rest.

John's gospel tells of grace Divine,
Where love and truth forever shine;
From Bethlehem to Calvary's tree -
John shows the Son Who sets us free.

The eagle teaches us to love,
Sacred truths from God above; 
To rise beyond earth's fleeting care,
And find God's loving Presence there.

John's words, though written long ago,
Still make faith's living river flow;
They kindle hope in every age,
As light that fills each sacred page.

O John, evangelist, pray that we
May know our Christ more perfectly;
Grant us the eagle's eyes to see,
The splendour of God's mystery.

The eagle is the symbol of Saint John the Evangelist, whose gospel emphasizes the Divinity of Christ. Flying higher than any other bird, the eagle is the emblem of John's keen insight into mystical doctrine.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle

ICON OF CHRIST PANTOCRATOR

 

Christ Pantocrator - Ruler of All

Christ Pantocrator, Lord Divine,
Whose endless love through ages shine;
You hold the stars within Your Hand,
And walk with us through every land.

Your mighty Word the heavens made,
The light, the sea, the silent glade;
Through the gifts the earth has grown,
Your boundless mercy is made known.

From golden grain comes living bread,
By loving hands so gently fed;
From ripened grapes comes joyful wine,
A humble gift with grace Divine.

These earthly signs, so plain, so small,
Reveal the Lord who governs all -
Your holy power transforms our days,
And fills our hearts with songs of praise.

You heal the broken, calm our fears,
And dry the sorrow of our tears.
You cleanse our hearts with love Divine,
And nourish us with bread and wine.

The Bread of Life, the Cup of Grace,
Reveal Your love in every place;
The God who reigns in heaven above
Comes down to us with endless love.

From clustered grapes the rich wine flows,
A sacred gift God's mercy shows.
Through humble fruit God's grace we see, 
As sign of holy mystery.

Through humble gifts Your life we share,
Your sacred Presence everywhere;
The Lord of Glory, strong and mild,
Receives each soul as His own child.

O Christ, Almighty Lord of all,
You answer every faith-filled call.
Lead us by faith until we see,
Your Face throughout eternity.

With thankful hearts we now proclaim,
All glory to Your holy Name!
Through Your gifts we are made new,
All praise, O Lord, belongs to You.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle

MOTHER MARY AT PRAYER

 

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle