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

O the Riches in the Gospel!

O the riches in the Gospel! 

Purposes no man conceived! 

Grace unfailing; love astounding, 

Given those who have believed! 

 

Pardon full for helpless sinners. 

Justified- though guilty be! 

Jesus cursed for our transgressions; 

We made righteous by decree! 

 

Peace with God, oh timeless marvel! 

Christ’s blood our security! 

Holiness at one with Favor; 

Heaven opened wondrously! 

 

Purpose in the Master’s kingdom; 

We, His worksmanship by grace, 

Cleansed to serve; alive in conscience; 

Spirit-filled to run the race. 

 

Pleasure in His highest priv’ledge: 

Sons of God by name are we! 

Heirs with Christ through God’s adoption; 

Called in love eternally!

 

O the riches in the Gospel! 

Purposes no man conceived! 

Grace unfailing; love astounding, 

Ever theirs who have believed!

-- K. Hartnett, November 2005

 

Pardon, peace, purpose, pleasure - oh what riches we have in Christ!

If He Had Faltered Even Once

They spit upon His meekness, 

And struck Him in the face. 

Their floggers swung with hatred; 

They stripped Him in disgrace. 

Deep worked the Roman anger 

That tortured Him, a Jew; 

Yet this His contemplation: 

“They know not what they do.” 

 

His people cheered “Hosanna,” 

Then had Him crucified. 

They freed corrupt Barabbas; 

To sentence Him, they lied. 

He hung outside their city, 

Where leaders mocked Him too; 

Yet this, the hurt He carried: 

“I would have gathered you.” 

 

No angels came to help Him 

When Heaven on Him fell. 

The Devil tried to reach Him 

Through ev’ry lie in hell. 

Unthinkable the anguish 

As Father crushed the Son, 

Yet this His firm conviction: 

“Thy will, not mine, be done.” 

 

No selfishness, no hatred, 

No spitefulness was there. 

No unbelief, no cursing, 

No pity from despair. 

One sinful thought; one failure, 

And Love would not succeed. 

The ransomed souls of hist’ry 

Must His perfection plead. 

 

If He had faltered even once, 

In flames of hell would men abide. 

Then ponder Christ, and praise at length 

The strength of Him there crucified. 

   

-- K. Hartnett, May 2007

 

I wrote this one backwards, i.e. having the idea for the last four lines before writing the rest.  Verse one highlights Christ's physical sufferings; verse two, His emotional/mental and verse three, His spiritual.  The colossal irony that the very men who tempted Him to failure were among those He died in perfection to save captures my imagination - and praise.

 

Even So, Come Quickly

Chorus

Even so, come quickly,
Oh my Lord do not delay!
You're my Blessed Hope,
And I long for You today.
Redeem my lowly body
And restore Thy perfect way.
How I yearn for Your returning,
And the wonder of that Day.

Verse One

The world rejects your wisdom
And has turned its back on grace;
Godless hearts surround me more and more.
I praise You for your mercy
And your love which so forbears,
But I see so much injustice
That I call to Thee who cares...

Verse Two

I see Your power around me,
And I marvel at Your ways;
The manner of your working I adore.
And yet my heart is aching;
There's a cry within my soul,
To leave behind the mortal
And to know redemption whole.

 

-- K. Hartnett, August 1996

Here Within Your Purposes

You see events tomorrow
As clear as yesterday’s -
For all existence lays before You now.
Your purposes are timeless;
Your Word forever set;
Creation’s right to being, You endow.

And here within Your purposes is man,
A marvel of Your glorious endeavor
To manifest the riches of Your grace
In lovingkindness through Your Son forever.


You looked upon the future
From endless ages past
Determining the ones to call Your own,
And loosed a recognition
Of righteousness and grace
That through Your Son would bring them to Your throne.

And here within Your purposes I stand,
A marvel of Your glorious endeavor
To manifest the riches of Your grace
In lovingkindness through Your Son forever.


You chose to save a people-
Redeeming each by name-
Yet joined them as a fam’ly into one.
And this amazing temple,
From ev’ry age and race,
Will praise You into endless days to come.

And here within Your purposes we stand,
A marvel of Your glorious endeavor
To manifest the riches of Your grace
In lovingkindness through Your Son forever.

-- K. Hartnett, April 2006

 

 

 

And Yet Till Now Is Not Enough

God’s Mighty Arm awaits the Day

His perfect hatred to display

As holiness in wrath unfurled

Against a wicked, falling world.

So now the proud still prouder grow

As men contend they cannot know

That Fury’s Face, like flint, grows tough-

And yet till now is not enough.

 

There moves a Kindness in the earth

Compelling men to seek new birth

And flee to Christ, for there they find

God’s Savior sent unto mankind.

So one by one they’re added in

As men fear God and turn from sin,

And Grace extends its saving touch-

And yet till now is not enough.

 

O marvel at the awesome way

Perfection sets the Judgment Day

As when the cup of wrath is filled

And Grace completes what Love hath willed.

Then ev’ry soul, both damned and free

Will worship Christ eternally

And say, “His Name is glorious!”

“And yet till now is not enough.”

 

-- K. Hartnett, February 2003

 

This poem is typical of my contemplative meditations around the beginning of a new year.  I don't often write in rhyming couplets, but somehow it seemed natural for expressing these thoughts.

 

 

Boundless Living God Eternal

Boundless Living God Eternal,

Virtue pre-existing time,

Awesome is Your righteous working;

Marvelous Your grand design.

 

Triune Self-revealing Genius,

Humble Self-exalted Truth,

Erring not, in love directing

Sovereign purposes on earth.

 

Traceless like the wind of heaven

Moved within the laws of force,

Works Your free, effective Presence

On its planned, omniscient course.

 

Keen upon the heart inquiring;

Causing circumstance to bear

In the unseen orchestration

Of Your grace and answered prayer.

 

Boundless Living God Eternal,

Active Spirit; Sinless Mind,

Sweeping history in Thy purpose;

Fathomless Your grand design.

 

-- K. Hartnett, August 2001

 

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be the glory forever, Amen.  (Romans 11:34, 36)

 

The seed for this poem was planted in my mind during a year-end review among small group leaders in our church where we were all asked to share how the Lord had changed lives and answered prayer during the course of the year.  I had one of those 'goose bump' moments when I sensed how purposeful, active, mysterious and powerful God was at work all around me. 

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.

Hallowed Be Thy Name!

For Your genius in creation,

Hallowed be Thy Name!

Power shown to ev’ry nation!

Hallowed be Thy Name!

For dominions great and small,

Molecules and starry skies,

Order brought to unseen reaches...

Hallowed, hallowed be Thy Name!

 

For Your wisdom ruling hist’ry,

Hallowed be Thy Name!

Righteous judgments; gracious purpose,

Hallowed be Thy Name!

For the people that You chose;

Laws exposing human need;

Prophecy and sure fulfillment...

Hallowed, hallowed be Thy Name!

 

For the wonder of the gospel,

Hallowed be Thy Name!

Christ the cursed, and we the pardoned!

Hallowed be Thy Name!

Triumph of Your Perfect Love-

Holiness and Peace embrace!

Now forever to the Lamb sing...

Hallowed, hallowed be Thy Name!

--K.Hartnett, June 2002

This poem sort of speaks for itself.  Whether in the sphere of nature and creation, human history, or  spiritual provision through the Gospel, His initiatives and accomplishments alone should be praised!   

Hallowed be Thy Name!

Prince of Peace; Thou Glorious Rider

Prince of Peace,

Thou Glorious Rider,

Leading forth the justified-

Heaven's Highest; Mankind's Finest;

Son of God; Triumphant Man.

 

How we praise You, Great Redeemer!

How we bless Your sacrifice!

You have wholly done the labor,

Bridging earth and Paradise!

 

 

Prince of Peace,

Thou Faithful Servant,

Humbly leaving glory by;

Come to bear the wrath of sinners;

Hammered on a cross to die.

 

How we thank You Selfless Savior!

How Your crown we so defiled!

You gave up Your life and blood that

God and man be reconciled.

 

 

Prince of Peace,

Thou First in Love, Who

Leads to life the lost and strayed.

Ever seeking, ever calling;

Shepherd of the souls You saved.

 

How we love You, Gracious Savior!

How we need You, Love Divine!

You, our Blessed Mediator,

Prince of Peace, all praise be Thine!

 

--K. Hartnett, June 1996

 

I used a lot of capitalized words in this poem - many more than I usually do.  Somehow they just seem more appropriate to me as each of the spots seems more like a title than just a description.  Christ incarnates every perfection.  In this sense, He owns every glorious title.

The reference to "Rider" comes from biblical images such as in Deut. 33:26, Psalm 68:33, Psalm 104:3 and Revelation 19:11.

I liked the second part of verse one enough to reuse it as the chorus in Jesus Christ, Our Great Redeemer