Kevin Hartnett Poetry

He Is Jesus

VERSE 1

Who is this young helpless little baby
Mary is caressing gently in her arms?
Why do shepherds hurry there to see Him,
Coming to the stable from surrounding farms?

He is Jesus, promised One of ages,
Sung by heaven’s angels as the Lord of all.
How will he then bring His mighty kingdom
Lying as an infant in a dirty stall?

VERSE 2

Who is this, now entering the city
Riding on a donkey through the cheering throng?
Can you see the faces of the soldiers
As the branches wave in Messianic song?

He is Jesus, wonder working prophet,
Known to silence demons, even raise the dead!
Will he now command His mighty army,
Or remove our chains a different way instead?

VERSE 3

Who is this now bloodied from a scourging,
Falling ‘neath a timber of a cross of shame?
What has happened to the adoration,
Have all men forgotten His exalted name?

He is Jesus, sent to free His people,
Not from Roman bondage, but from Heaven’s rod.
He is Jesus, nailed upon the altar,
Cursed for our transgressions; slaughtered Lamb of God.

VERSE 4

O that I might join the angels’ chorus,
Worshipping the One who humbly came to save!
He fulfilled God’s loving plan to free us,
Banishing our sins and conquering the grave!

He is Jesus, He is my Redeemer,
Lord of Love incarnate, ransom from above.
He is Jesus, hope of ev’ry nation,
Crucified Messiah, saving Son of God!

I wrote these lyrics for a beautiful melody written by Kevin Schellhase. They were further refined at a Sovereign Grace Ministries songwriter's retreat, where I was encouraged to write what became verse two.  It was a glorious and memorable experience listening to the melody for the first time and having ideas rush into my head.  It was a unique moment of inspiration and worship.  In a small way, I felt "caught up" with the angels.   You can download the score of the song at the link below.

Download He is Jesus FINAL (12 1 09) - lead

Jesus Is Emmanuel

God made people much like sheep.
They both love to eat and sleep!
Shepherds too for them He made,
So they wouldn’t be afraid (and)
This is why He came that day,
Lying with the sheep in hay.
God with man had come to dwell-
Jesus is Emmanuel.

Sheep and people disobey,
Both will wander far away.
Jesus leads us to His cross
So that we might not be lost (and)
This is why He came that day,
Seeking those who’d gone astray.
God with man had come to dwell,
Jesus is Emmanuel.

Sing with joy this happy song-
We, His sheep, to God belong!
Christ is come; His flock to save
For our souls, His life He gave (and)
This is why He came that day-
Taking all our sins away.
God with man had come to dwell;
Jesus is Emmanuel.

K.H., October 2006

Several years ago, friend Ken Boer and I collaborated on a number of children's songs.  This is one of them.  I pray others might find them useful.  You can get the score or by clicking accordingly below.  I'll try to add a link to a recording soon.

Download Jesus is Emmanuel

 

 

 

 

The Incarnation

Photo by Kevin Hartnett

Notwithstanding mankind’s stature-

Ever lost from dust made more-

God In-finite-man, a Savior,

Bore the filth of earthen floor.

-- K. Hartnett, December 1976

Then the Lord God formed man of dust…(Genesis 2:7))

And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger…(Luke 2:7)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree…(I Peter 2:24)

The Star Capella - Beauty at the Change of Season

Herald of the crisp and cold winter nights of  northern latitudes, the bright star Capella rises prominently in the east during the late fall months.  Capella is the sixth brightest star in the sky.  At a distance of only 45 light- years, it is also one of the closer stars to our Sun, and actually shares the Sun’s beautiful yellow color.  The color of a star is determined by its temperature, much in the same way as iron glows differently when it is heated to various degrees.  Lower temperatures produce reddish hues; extremely hot ones show as brilliant blue-white.  Capella is actually part of a multiple star system, with a nearby companion star, and two more at a greater distance in orbit around the primary two.   Astronomers have found that the majority of stars in our galaxy are part of such pairs or groupings.

Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power not one of them is missing. (Isaiah 40:26)

I wrote this poem during the Christmas season following my first year of living as a true Christian.  In it I try to verbalize the unspeakably great  truth that God Himself in the form of Jesus Christ became incarnate, that is, came as a man, to humbly pay for sins through His death and thereby reconcile sinful men to Himself.   The scriptures reveal Christ as simultaneously fully God ("Infinite man") and fully man ("In finite man").  He humbly laid aside His heavenly prerogative for glory and was born on a stable floor in the flesh of dust from which He originally created Adam.  Later in life He would also bear the spiritual filth of men’s sins on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice.  The last line of this poem seeks to capture simultaneously  these interrelated  thoughts.

He Came for Us

He came not to a temple
Nor to a palace bright;
His face felt not the sunshine,
But homeless chill of night;
No fragrant linens wrapped Him,
His bed was rude and spare.
He came among the lowly,
Their lowliness to share.

He came as Son of David,
God’s kingdom to increase;
To warring sons of Adam
He came as Prince of Peace.
The prophets had foreseen it-
This shoot from Jesse’s stem-
The promised hope of Jacob 
Would come from Bethlehem.

 
He came to free a people,
For ‘Jesus’ was His name;
To bear the sins of many,
The Lord of Love, He came.
He numbered with transgressors;
God’s judgment He withstood.
The splinters of the manger
Foretold a cross of wood.

 
He came for us, true Son of Man,
He came to pain and strife.
The Promised One, Emmanuel,
He came to bring us life!

--K. Hartnett, December 2005

I tried for a contemplative, quiet "feel" with this one.  What a wonderful truth that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son for us (John 3:16).

Christ Is Born in Bethlehem!

Join your voice to angels singing, 
Christ is born in Bethlehem! 
Son of God, His purpose bringing, 
Christ is born in Bethlehem! 
To the very home of David, 
Comes the shoot of Jesse’s stem; 
Ancient promises fulfilling- 
Christ is born in Bethlehem!

From the least now comes the Leader! 
Christ is born in Bethlehem! 
Marvel at His gracious favor! 
Christ is born in Bethlehem! 
God selects what men deem foolish; 
Boasting He excludes from them. 
Raise your voice this truth to savor! 
Christ is born in Bethlehem!

 
Shepherd of the blind and helpless, 
Christ is born in Bethlehem! 
Saving Son and Faithful Witness, 
Christ is born in Bethlehem! 
Voice this thought in joyful wonder- 
God Himself aligns with men! 
Praise our Hope displayed incarnate- 
Christ is born in Bethlehem!

--K. Hartnett, May 2006

I was inspired to write this poem after reading a sermon by John Piper called From Little Bethlehem Will Come a Ruler in Israel.  I recommend it.

Look, Mary, Look

Mary look, the baby’s smiling- 
Hearing Joseph call His name! 
Isn’t this the confirmation 
Of that which the angel claimed? 
Yes, your baby’s in a manger; 
Lying in a dirty stall. 
Look again- He’s Son of David; 
King of Jacob; Lord of all. 

Mary look, it’s Joseph crying- 
Worshipping the son you bore. 
What a husband there beside you, 
Kneeling humbly on the floor! 
Tiny babe holds calloused finger; 
Something touching deeply there. 
God indeed is in the stable- 
Granting vision; bringing care. 

Mary look, the shepherds coming- 
Calling out to greet their King! 
Do you know the proclamation 
That they heard the angels bring? 
“You will find Him in a manger; 
Wrapped and lying in the straw” 
Mary, you are not in danger, 
Look how God prescribed it all. 

Mary look, the star appearing! 
Moving higher into view! 
What a strange, but precious wonder, 
There abiding over you. 
See, the star shines into heaven- 
Angels' mark where God met man! 
Hidden from the view of mortals, 
God completes what He began.

Look, Mary, look, 
It wasn’t just a dream. 
God’s indeed at work, 
Despite how things might seem.

--K. Hartnett, June 2006

I am aware of taking a risk with this poem, as I'm sure there are some who would be offended at the notion that Mary was anything but completely steadfast in her faith.  Indeed, I fully agree that the Mary of scripture is a wonderful example of faith, obedience, and loving loyalty.  But I can't help but wonder what all was in her young heart and mind as the events of that season in her life unfolded- especially that day in Bethlehem.  The poem is the product of my imagination; written to encourage all who are experiencing circumstances that are hard to understand.