Poem based on Matthew 4:1-11 The Temptation of Jesus

Sometimes you know

Deep down inside you just know

But you have to test

Children do it all the time

Test

They know

But they just want to really know

Who’s in charge

Are things the same

And they test

The people Israel knew

They had their time

For forty years they wandered

And were put to the test

And they knew the story

Each line by heart

To say one line

Said them all

And they lived that time

And answered the question

Who’s in charge?

After forty days Jesus was hungry

And they knew

they had been there too

they knew the hunger

they knew the pain

and they felt each moment

when the temptations came

and the forty years

of their wanderings came back

and they remembered that time

and they remembered their lack

as they whined and groaned

and fell into sin

at each temptation

again and again

and answered the question

who’s in charge?

If you are who you say then tell these rocks

And the question rang

Tell them to be bread so you can eat

The devil sang

And the question came out loud and clear

And Israel knew it

Knew it deep in their hearts

Because they lived it

And they prayed it

Each day of their lives

Shama

The Lord is our God

The Lord is one

But still that question

it needs to be near

and the question rang out

who’s in charge here

and the answer came as did manna from above

that we don’t live on just bread

but we live on each word

that comes from our God

who’s in charge

but that wasn’t enough

and Jesus was taken

to the temple in Jerusalem

and the devil said

it’s time to test God

and the claim that you’re really the son

so jump from this temple

jump down and show

the world

that God’s really true

God said you’d be safe

So prove it. Now Jump

Maybe I’ll stop bugging you too…

And Israel remembered

How they had tested their Lord

And the question rang out loud and clear

And Jesus snapped back

Don’t put God to the test

And the question……

Who’s in charge here

Next Jesus was lead

To the top of the mountain

To see all the kingdoms below

And Israel remembered

Shema Israel

They remembered their own calf of gold

As Moses was taken on high

They knew

They remembered

How miserable they failed in their task

And Moses had seen

What the people had done

And again the question was asked

It’s yours

You can have it

You can be their messiah

Just bow down and worship me now

And Jesus responded

Satan! Go to hell!

For it is written

Worship and serve only God

Remembered Israel

They remembered their prayer

Shama

The Lord is our God

The Lord is one