Our Cross

Jesus taught that He must suffer
That His path could not be tougher
From elders and chief priests and scribes
He’d die, and be raised He describes

But Peter said this won’t happen
Christ said, Get behind Me, Satan!
Be mindful of the things of God
And not the things that men applaud

Someone who wants to follow Me
Takes up his cross, lives selflessly
Try to save your life and lose it
Lose it and you’ll find ev’ry whit

Gain the whole world. What profit’s there
To lose your soul going nowhere?
What will you exchange for your soul
The Son of Man will reward works whole

There are some here who will die
Till they see the kingdom coming by

Matthew 16:21-28

Children’s Rhyme to Farmer in the Dell

The farmer plants some seeds
The farmer plants some seeds
Hi ho the derry-o
The farmer plants some seeds

And some fell on the path
And some fell on the path
Hi ho the derry-o
And some fell on the path

And some fell on the stones
And some fell on the stones
Hi ho the derry-o
And some fell on the stones

And some fell in the thorns
And some fell in the thorns
Hi ho the derry-o
And some fell in the thorns

And some fell on good soil
And some fell on good soil
Hi ho the derry-o
And some fell on good soil

And there it bore much fruit
And there it bore much fruit
Hi ho the derry-o
And there it bore much fruit

On What Rock

Who do people say the Son is
A prophet or John the Baptist
Who do you say I am abroad
You are the Christ, the Son of God

You are blessed Simon Bar-Jonah
THIS is revealed by My Father
YOU are Peter, and on THIS rock
I will erect My called out flock

The grave won’t prevail against it
And the keys to YOU I remit
Whatever YOU forbid on earth
Is taboo as heaven set forth

Whatever you permit on earth
Is allowed as heaven set forth
Then He ordered His disciples
That He’s Christ don’t tell the peoples

Not Offended

Eating doesn’t defile a man
But what he says certainly can
This offended the Pharisees
Planted by men, torn out with ease

Let them be; the blind lead the blind
Both fall in a ditch, bear in mind
The words we say come from the heart
The place where evil thoughts depart

These are things which defile a man
Not eating with an unwashed hand
Later a Gentile woman came
My daughter’s sick she did explain

Jesus answered her not a word
Send her off the disciples slurred
Jesus said, Israel’s my mission
“Lord, help me!” was her submission

He said, “Children’s bread’s not for pups.”
She said, “A dog from the crumbs sups.”
Jesus said, “O your faith is great!”
Her daughter was healed on that date

Matthew 15:10-28

God Provides

Jesus departed there by boat
To a deserted place remote
Crowds followed Him from the cities
He was moved for them with pities

Healed their sick, but His disciples
Said send them to buy some staples
But then Jesus said, you feed them
They said, with some fish and a crumb?

Jesus took the fish and the loaves
He blessed and gave them to the droves
So they all ate and they were filled
With twelve baskets left they were thrilled

Matthew 14:13-21

Eternal Treasures

The kingdom’s like a mustard seed
Which becomes a large tree indeed
The kingdom’s just like leaven too
Which leavened three loaves all way through

The kingdom’s like buried treasure
A man sold all for its pleasure
The kingdom’s just like a merchant
For a pearl sells all to purchase

The kingdom’s just like a dragnet
That gathers indiscriminate
The fishermen gather the good
Throw the bad away as you would

So it will be at age’s end
Separation they will attend
The wicked they’ll throw in the fire
There’ll be wailing and gnashing dire

Jesus said, “Have you understood
All these things?” And they said, “Yes, Lord.”
Teachers who become disciples
Brings out old and new arrivals

Wheat and Weeds

The kingdom‘s like a man planting good seeds
But while men slept, his enemy sowed weeds
But when the grain produced a crop
The tares also came to the top

So then the field hands said to him
‘How does your crop have tares within?
He said, ‘An enemy did this.’
They asked ‘Should we weed in a blitz?’

He said, ‘No, you’ll uproot the wheat
Until harvest they’ll have a seat
And then I’ll say to the reapers
“First gather and burn all the tares

Gather the wheat into my barn.”
The good seed was sown by the Son
The field is the whole world in sum
Good seeds, children of the kingdom

Tares, children of the wicked one
Their sowing the devil has done
The harvest’s the end of the age
The reaping, the angels engage

Offenders are cast in the fire
Wailing, gnashing teeth in the pyre
The righteous will shine like the sun
In their Father’s kingdom

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

The Word as Seed

When Jesus taught the multitudes
He spoke to them in parables
Behold, a sower went to sow
And seed fell on the path, you know

And the birds came and ate up the seed
On stones the seed came up with speed
But it was soon scorched by the sun
And withered until there was none

And some fell among prickly plants
Which choked them; they had no chance
On good ground a crop of repute
Hundred, sixty, thirtyfold fruit

Who has ears to hear, let them hear
Why did He speak in parables here?
He answered it’s given to you
To know the kingdom’s riddles too

But to them it’s not been given
In their hearts is no provision
Their ears are hard of hearing
And their eyes they’ve shut from seeing

But blessed are your eyes for they see
And your ears hear actually
Many prophets wanted to see
And also hear I’ll guarantee

It’s snatched from those who don’t perceive
And some just quit when they’re aggrieved
Worldliness will choke out the word
And Some bear much fruit undeterred

Matthew 13:1-23

Rest for Our Souls

This age is like little children
Playing, calling their companions
We played flute and you didn’t dance
We mourned, you gave no caring glance

John was strict and called demonic
Jesus a drunk? How ironic!
He blamed towns that would not repent
Chorazin, Bethsaida, He meant

Tyre, Sidon, would have repented
Capernaum will be tormented
E’en Sodom would have relented
But your judgment is cemented

I thank You, Father, You’ve hidden
This from the wise, but not children
Come to Me, you weary, oppressed
And burdened. I will give you rest

Take up My yoke and learn from Me
For I am gentle and lowly
And you will find rest for your souls
My yoke, My burden lightly rolls

Matthew 11:16-30

Christian Hospitality

He who receives you, receives Me
Receives the One who sent Me, He
Receive a prophet in his name
And receive his reward, the same

Receives the righteous in his name
And receive his reward, the same
Give a little one just water
A disciple, son or daughter

Believe me, you won’t be ignored
You’ll by no means lose your reward

Matthew 10:40-42