The Lamb Upon The Cross

 A Poem for Lent

I call this poem my miracle poem. To find out why please read the narrative that follows this poem...

Image credit: pastoralmeanderings.blogspot.com

THE LAMB

 

O look upon the innocent

the unblemished lamb, slain at twilight

as God decreed through Moses

See its blood upon the doorposts, upon the lintel

The Israelites consume it along with bitter herbs

reminiscent of affliction

They eat hurriedly, prepared for departure

loins girded, sandals on their feet

staff in hand, the lamb within

Look upon the foreshadows

see their hazy shapes coming into focus—

It’s the Passover of the Lord

 

God struck His mighty hand against Egypt

and the firstborn of man and livestock were slain

As God looked upon the lamb’s blood

on the doorposts, on the lintels

He passed over the Israelite dwellings

and delivered His chosen, saved

by the blood of the Lamb

Look upon the foreshadows

see their hazy shapes coming into focus—

It’s the Passover, the Holy Passover of the Lord

 

O look upon the Innocent, the Unblemished One

the Lamb upon the Cross

slain in unison with other lambs at Passover

See the crimson Blood trickling down

the thorn-crowned Face

streaming from His hands and feet

See the iron spikes, the gaping stripes

the Suffering Servant

Oh! Look into the Eyes of the Lamb

the Atonement for all sin

It’s the Passion, the Holy Passion of the Lord

 

The Redemptive Lambs

meet in the foreshadows

Their shapes come into focus—

They are One

 

The precious Blood

of the Lamb upon the Cross

redeems the world—

 

We are saved

by the Blood of the Lamb—

 

It is finished. Alleluia!

 

O look upon the glorious One

the Lamb standing as if slain

Hear the multitudes proclaim—

 

Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain

to receive power and wealth

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!

 

...To Him who sits on the throne

and to the Lamb, be praise and honor

and glory and power for ever and ever![1]

 

Amen

 

Maude Carolan

orig 1991; rev 8 2/10/19

 

 

About this poem—

I began writing inspirational poetry, seriously, in the 1980s. I read, studied, and experimented with writing styles, trying to find my voice.

 

Shortly after marrying Leo Carolan, in 1991, I was sitting at my desk in work at Kearfott in Wayne, NJ, one Friday afternoon, when a vision of a Lamb upon a cross, momentarily flashed before my eyes. Strangely, it was a cocoa-colored lamb. Its sad dark eyes looked down and penetrated me. I knew at that moment I would write a poem about the Lamb upon a cross.

 

That evening, Leo and I went to the Shabbat service at Beth Israel Messianic Center, then in Garfield, NJ. I began talking with a woman I knew, named Elaine. I complimented her on a piece of unique jewelry she was wearing. It was a gold Star of David with a realistic platinum lamb affixed over it. She wore it on a chain around her neck. Elaine explained to me that she had the piece custom-made. The Star had a wood-grain design, which represented the cross to her. There it was, for the second time that day, the Lamb upon a cross. I immediately knew the poem swirling in my mind would begin with the lambs in Exodus that were slain at Passover.

 

Writing the poem was particularly significant because I strongly felt God’s hand upon me as I wrote. When the draft was finished, I prepared to show it to Leo to get his opinion. Because this poem was deeply personal and important, I prayed first and asked God to give me the grace to accept any criticism he might offer without becoming sensitive or defensive. He asked me to read the poem to him. As I read aloud, there was one word I suddenly realized needed to be changed. I waited for Leo’s input. He said he liked it a lot, but there was just one word he recommended I change. Of course, it was the very same word. Praise the Lord for the amazing grace He gives. I consider this poem to be my miracle poem. It is titled, “The Lamb”.

 

---

[1] Rev. 5:12-13 (N.I.V.)

Maude Carolan Pych, reading from her book,

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

at the Totowa (NJ) Library.

Her book is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

www.maudecarolanpych.net

maudecpych@gmail.com