Verses for Easter
​
I was asked to write some Easter songs/verses that tell the narrative. Here is my attempt to use the Gospel of St Matthew to do that. One friend has set 'At Simon's House' to the music of Tchaikovsky and another is working on a musical interpretation for the whole cycle. Interesting times. Any teachers who would like to use this at a future date please let me know. I would be delighted to help.
​
The Last Supper
Jesus and his friends were gathered there to celebrate
The table was made ready for the meal
There they were, thirteen of them and one had sealed his fate
Who could know how such a man would feel?
Jesus asked for silence and he spoke in solemn voice
There’s one who will betray me in this room
One who’s dipped his hand with me. He seems to have no choice
One whose kiss will send me to my doom
They all cried out in anguish. All were asking ‘Is it I?’
‘Woe to that man by whom I am betrayed!
It had been good were he not born.’ He breathed a soulful sigh.
How is a wicked conscience to be weighed?
Judas, who’d betrayed him then asked, ‘Master, is it I?’
And Jesus simply answered ‘Thou hast said’
He took the bread and blessed it all, then broke it by and by
‘My body lies within this blessed bread’
He took the cup, gave righteous thanks, and poured the crimson wine
He bade them drink to celebrate the day
‘Drink of the wine, drink all of it. For this red blood is mine
Embrace my love and hear what I must say
This is my blood which will be shed to pardon others’ sins
And from henceforth I’ll drink not from the vine
Until the day, I drink it new, where fresh, new hope begins
Let this sweet drink forever be a sign’
They sung a hymn then to the Mount of Olives made their way
Then Jesus said, ‘ Offended you will be
For it is written, I will smite the shepherd and I say
The sheep will scatter - all because of me’
Peter spoke, ‘Though others take offense because of thee
I know that I will never be feel the same’
Jesus said unto him. Your denials will be three
His friend replied he’d not deny his name
​
At Simon’s House
What tales Jesus told to guide them and nourish them
(Of) Farmers and mustard seeds, weeds amongst wheat
He spoke of the Pharisee, widows and servants
Pearls of great price, of the poor in the street
Bethany beckoned them. Just before Passover
At Simon the leper’s house they came to eat
A woman named Mary was serving unnoticed
The tears from her tired eyes anointed his feet
She used her soft tresses to wipe them and dry them
She kissed his feet and continued to cry
With opulent oils she cradled and soothed them
Then breaking her silence she gave out a sigh
So many were angry at this waste of money
Chastising her for the oil was quite rare
Sell it and use to help those in poverty
A resource like that is an answer to prayer
As Jesus looked on he explained to them softly
The poor will be with you for they need your care
This woman prepares me for that which is coming
My death will come soon so you must be aware
A brother who’s sharing this meal will betray me
One who has dipped his right hand in this dish
Gethsemane will be the place of betrayal
And all will be done with a clandestine kiss
​
The Trial
In the house of Caiaphas the elders and the scribes
Were waiting for the man they were to try
With accusations ready, there was mocking, there were jibes
They wanted to convict him. They asked him to deny
He was the son of God. They said it was a lie
With swords and staves they took him he was treated like a thief
He went with them in silence for he knew
That his future was foretold, the anguish, pain and grief
The script already written. Those ancient words come true
He came to Earth. The son of God. He knew what he must do
Peter, in his shame, denied he’d ever known his friend
Then the cock crowed three times loud and clear
The sun was rising slowly and he knew how it must end
For all had been predicted and in his mortal fear
He’d denied the son of God. He shed a silent tear
​
Pilate
Pilate
Time for feasting, celebration
Time for all the congregation
To choose a prisoner of the hour
And set him free. It’s in my power
All Chorus
Let the message now be heard
That Pilate would not say the word
To free a good man. Now lament
Jesus Christ is innocent.
Pilate
Here stands a man of innocence
And though he offers no defence
Why not select this prisoner here?
Who’s done no wrong for that is clear
Chorus
​
The Crowd
Barabbas is the man we seek
If Jesus will not deign to speak
Well then it is his turn to die
The time has come to crucify
Chorus
Pilate
You really do not seem to care
I wash my hands of this affair
Scourge him – give him to the crowd
He stands there with his head unbowed
Chorus
All
A thorn of crowns - they pierce his head
They wrap him in a robe of red
His fragile frame – they spit and chide
And some that saw looked on and cried
All Chorus
Let the message now be heard
That Pilate would not say the word
To free a good man. Now lament
Jesus Christ is innocent.
​
The Crucifixion
Simon then took up the cross
Compelled by soldiers of the state
Walking slowly through the streets
To lead the prisoner to his fate
And then they laid him on the cross
With nails they pinned him hands and feet
They raised him so that all could see
They thought that their work was complete
‘My God, my God how can it be
That I am left alone to die?
Why hast thou forsaken me?’
A man responded to his cry
And with a reed he bathed his lips
With vinegar to ease the pain
He took the balm in painful sips
There in Golgotha on the plain
Within the shadow of the cross
The soldiers sat beneath sky
They rolled their dice to win his clothes
And sat and watched to see him die
Then those that passed looked up and saw
A broken figure crowned in leaves
With bloody thorns. ‘King of the Jews’
On either side two wretched thieves
They all defied him to climb down
The priests, the elders and the scribes
The thieves on either side did too
And hurled at him their taunts and jibes
And as he took his final breaths
The earth shook with a mighty quake
The temple fell and all was fear
And still his spirit would not break
​
The Resurrection
Joseph pleaded for the body
Of his saviour. Pilate said
‘Deliver him to his disciples.
Time to mourn. Let tears be shed.’
Joseph held his master’s body
Took it from the watching crowd
To a place of peace and stillness
Cleaned and wrapped it in a shroud.
When the solemn rites were finished
He was lifted from the room
Joseph took the fragile body
Laid it in his own new tomb
Then in gentle veneration
Men and women cried in prayer
The great, stone door was rolled in place
And here was heartache and despair
Guards were sent to watch the chamber
Three long days they watched the tomb
The stone was rolled back on the Sabbath
There inside an empty room
On the stone that was the portal
Sat an angel white as snow
The tomb was silent, cold and empty
There was nothing there to show
‘As the prophets had predicted
He has risen. All can see
He is walking now, amongst you.
On the road to Galilee’
And so it was there came salvation
Here is hope and here is joy
Love and kindness, peace and goodness
That no evil can destroy
​
​
