Bible In Poetry: Gospel Of St. Mark (Chapter 1) Poem by Dr John Celes

From Isaiah’s writings:

“Behold God’s messenger!
He comes ahead of you;
He’ll prepare your way! ”

A voice echoes in desert, loud:
“Prepare way for the Lord;
Make straight His paths;
Repent, be forgiven.”

Through Judea, Jerusalem,
The Baptist, John walks;
As people confess sins,
About the Lord, he talks.
And baptizes them all
In river Jordan!

John, clothed in camel’s hair,
With leather-belt in waist,
Feeds on locusts and wild honey.

Proclaiming: “Comes a mightier one
After me, whose sandals’ thongs,
I’m unworthy to stoop, loosen! ”
‘I baptize you with water;
He does by Holy Spirit.’

A Nazarene, of Galilee,
Yet, Jesus got baptized by John.
The Heavens tore open:
The Spirit came dove-like!
A voice said from heaven:
“This is my son in whom
I am well-pleased! ”

Soon, Jesus went to the desert;
For forty days, He lived just there;
And Satan tempted Him!
He lived amidst wild beasts;
But angels ministered to Him!

And after John’s arrest,
Then, Jesus preached God’s gospel,
In all of Galilee:
‘God’s Kingdom is at hand;
Repent, believe His word;
Enter His land.’

To Simon and brother
Andrew, both fishermen:
‘Come after me, He said.
I’ll make you both ‘Fishers of men’! ’
They left their nets and followed Him.

And walking farther on,
Then Jesus came upon,
Zebedee’s sons, James and John,
Mending their nets with zeal;
When Jesus called them both,
They left their father, boat
And followed Him.

Then Jesus came to Capernaum,
Entered the synagogue,
On Sabbath-day!
With great authority, He taught;
Astonished, people stayed.

Came, a man with unclean spirits
That said:
‘O Holy One, Destroy us not! ’
When Jesus rebuked the spirit;
The man convulsed and cried,
Out came, the evil spirit!
While people murmured:
‘He commands unclean spirits too,
They obey unto Him.’
Across all Galilee,
His fame thus spread.

And Jesus entered Simon’s house;
His mother-in-law was febrile;
He grasped her hand and helped her up;
The fever left at once.

When evening came, they brought to Him,
The ill and demonized;
He cured the sick off illnesses,
And drove the demons out;
He left by early dawn,
A desert place to pray;
Then Jesus went to places near,
Most villages to preach.

A Leper knelt and begged of Him:
‘If you so wish, I will be clean.’
With pity, Jesus stretched His hand
Over his head and said, “Be clean”
At once, the leprosy left him!

Jesus warned him sternly:
‘Don’t tell anyone anything;
Go show the priest and
Offer as Moses said,
As proof of turning clean.’
The man told many people;
So, Jesus stayed in lonely spots;
Yet, people flocked from everywhere.