Behold

 

Behold, you exclaimed; " The lamb of God,"

As you beheld your cousin,

 the Saviour of the World.

Did your heart leap for joy?

With some strange, familiar stirring,

An echo in your being, a story you remember hearing?

How the Spirit was upon you, even in the womb,

You jumped for joy, when you heard the glorious news.

Living in the desert, calling all to repent,

Proclaiming He is coming,

And making His paths straight.

John, the Baptizer, wilderness proclaimer,

Of whom the Messiah, said there was non greater,

No prophet had arisen, more faithful than the one,

Who saw heavens open, and God reveal His Son.

You cared for nothing, only to make Him room,

To prepare the way,

for the one who brings good news.

In humility, you retreated and gave Him all the glory,

You bid your disciples, to follow Him only.

You became less, and He became more,

How you must have wondered, just what God had in store?

You boldly proclaimed, the ways of the Kingdom,

So zealous for truth, you paid with your freedom.

Flung into prison, in the dark pit of Herod

Because you had so vocally called out His errors,

His brothers wife was furious, and in her vicious rage,

Had demanded your imprisonment, with your life you must pay. 

You sent word to Jesus,

Are you really the One?

Or should we wait for another to come?

Jesus gave His answer, declaring all His deeds,

But He omitted, the captives being freed!

How confused you must have been,

As your ending was swift,

What a wretched tragedy, our Saviour, was so grieved.

Zealous, righteous preacher, you beheld the incarnate Son,

And you rightly declared, He was the redeeming one.

I believe you went before Him, to heaven's eternal home,

Witnessing with the angels, all that would unfold.

The greatest love story, ever to be told. 

When He came home, in a blazing flash of light.

How you must have jumped again, in pure delight.

With arms open wide, you must have held your beloved,

Knowing in that moment, that everything was worth it.

For the risen, victorious, glorious King,

For whom you gave your everything.

Forever, beholding His wonderful face,

The first faithful servant to finish the race.

Dawn Annette Montague

4th August 2024