It was summer of 2016 when God put this on my heart. A man seeing Jesus and the disciples, begins to follow, wondering at all he sees and hears. Gradually he comes to believe this man is who he claims to be. The Messiah. It was about two weeks from start to finish the work. I pray God touches one heart with this and that will justify the effort. This is His work. I just wrote it down. It is long but no apologies.
The Follower
by Frank Lee Jennings
Summer, 2016
At the beginning He was a stranger to me
The first I ever saw him
I was walking by the way
a crowd was closely pressing
while He had stopped to pray
what can this be I asked myself?
a rich man's son was dying
and he'd come here to plead
that Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth
would do a wondrous deed
can he do that? I wondered
to take dark loss far from his door
far from his precious son
he wept and prayed the Rabbi
who simply said "it's done"
is that really true? I doubted
rejoicing went the rich man
who'd trusted Jesus' word
I watched and listened to them
but doubted what I'd heard
just a man can't do this!
but then the rich man's servants
came and met him in the way
rejoicing, told their master
his son no longer lay
upon a deathbed dying
but had risen up with joy
and was now completely perfect
a healthy little boy
I was witness to this
and yet I questioned still
that a man could heal another
without potion, touch or pill
was this man a magician?
He went into the synagogue
there in Capernaum
and preached words from Isaiah
and said the time was come
for His words to be quickened
and that He was the one
long spoken of by prophets
the world to overcome
this man says he's Messiah!?
they brought a man before Him
screaming, bound and tied
Jesus cast the devil from him
the man fell as though he'd died
can this be, he casts out devils?
I was more confused than ever
as I stood there in that throng
a normal man can't do such things
could it be I was wrong?
can He possibly be the Messiah?
I went with them and Peter
we wound through streets and lanes
with Jesus sometimes speaking
of the work that yet remained
work? What work?
then coming to his in-laws home
Peter showed a few inside
his wife's mother lie sick abed
with friends close by her side
Jesus spoke and healed her
so the fever fled away
then she rose up and served them
toward the ending of the day
what man can do these things?
then others came to beg Him
to heal them of their woes
so Jesus prayed and healed them all
at Peter's in-laws door
not a one left sickly
He healed them with such ease
I stood amazed at his great power
to cure these men's disease
I must learn more about him!
never had I seen such things
in Israel's sacred land
I intend to follow after him
to try and understand
my other life must wait
I never tired of following
after Jesus and his men
as they roamed about all Israel
and preached of life and sin
I feel the burden of my deeds
he spoke of dead religion, men
whose hearts were as a sword
who taught keeping tradition
was all that pleased the Lord
I left awhile to journey home
to see my land and kin
for I'd been gone for quite awhile
and they worried where I'd been
I can't tell them what I'm doing
I soon returned to Jesus
for all the while away
I longed to be back with him
and to hear him every day
why do I feel this emptiness?
come to me the Rabbi said
then I will take your sin
and give forgiveness for it
so you may enter in
to God the Father's kingdom
where you never shall grow old
and worship Him for ever
in Christ the Shepherd's fold
where no dark thing can enter
no tears or pain to bear
forever there to praise Him
that bought us from despair
he's says plainly that He's the one!
and washed us from our sins
with his own blameless blood
and clasped us to himself
just as a father would
JESUS TEACHES AT THE SEA
we came down to the sea shore
with Jesus teaching still
the crowd was pressing sorely
and couldn't get their fill
He spoke God's word with power
as a prophet of the Lord
then healed all those around Him
with no thought of reward
we'd never heard such things
in synagogues or temples
His words came in such power
that made it seem so simple
never had I heard the prophets so
now Simon's boat was near us
so we few climbed aboard
and Jesus taught the multitude
from just off Galilee's shore
Simon allowed me to come...
we pulled the boat away now
as I'd become a hand
to help with all the nets and gear
and near the Master stand
for in the past few days
I'd seen his gentle stare
though he had said nothing
I knew he was aware
of this quiet, single follower
that often came so near
whenever he was preaching
I was always standing near
I wanted to draw even closer...
He taught of many things
then fading twilight came
and as the people went away
they praised His wondrous name
for his wisdom, love and healing
that never had been seen
in all the land of Israel
since David was their king
MIRACLE OF THE FISHES
we went to sea right after that
as the sun set on the rim
of Galilee's calm waters
and a crew of needy men
I sat in the stern watching him...
then Jesus spoke to Simon
to set their nets once more
the fishermen all doubted
but cast them as before
as soon as they had set them
the boat began to fail
from the straining of the nets
as they pulled against the rail
the nets had filled with fishes
more than they'd ever seen
right to the point of bursting
and we couldn't pull them in
Simon fell to weeping
and went down on his knees
have mercy on us Rabbi
for we're not fit to be
standing in your presence
because I know your name
you are the Lord's Messiah
and for Israel you came
Blessed are you Simon Peter
for this thing you've been shown
came to you from the Father
and was not on your own
See that you tell no one
for in good time they'll know
that I am God's Messiah
as the prophets wrote before
of all things relating to me
of my birth and death and then
of my foretold resurrection
and blood covenant for men
causing the law to be fulfilled
in God's perfect grace and time
for I am His word and power
and all authority is mine
I lay my life down willingly
then I take it up again
for love of man I do this
to redeem all from their sins
JESUS CALMS THE STORM
later a great storm arose
we hoped that it would cease
it looked like we were sinking
but the master slept in peace
finally we all woke him
as high black waves broke oer'
he marveled at our faithlessness
then silenced all the roar
he marvelled at our lack of faith
and never seemed to fear
no natter what was happening
his voice was firm and clear
months went by with me in tow
just watching from the side
as he touched and healed the lepers
and opened up blind eyes
how can this man be God too?
the leaders of the synagogues
all plotted day and night
and tried to catch him in his words
they sought with all their might
but he made them all look foolish
when he answered in a way
that filled the place with power
and took their breaths away
I stood amazed at his authority...
HEALING JAIRUS' DAUGHTER
a man named Jairus came
then at Jesus' feet did plead
for him to quickly come
and meet his daughter's need
for the child was near to death
no physician had the skill
to drive away the plague
that stormed in for to kill
I'd never seen a man more broken
as Jesus walked to Jairus' house
He was pressed hard by the crowds
but suddenly he stopped
then challenged right aloud
He said "who touched my clothes"?
and a little woman cried
"if I hadn't touched you Lord
I'm sure I would have died"
for she'd been to all the doctors
who took her every cent
but still she was afflicted
no matter where she went
she was frail and slight...
he blessed her for her faith
and praised her with his words
but Jairus' daughter passed away
and her neighbors mocked the Lord
so Jesus sent the crowd away
save for the chosen part
then spoke life back into the girl
who sat up with a start
I saw this through a window
the parents were rejoicing
but Jesus merely said
see that you do not tell a soul
and see that she is fed
Continues below
The Follower
by Frank Lee Jennings
Summer, 2016
At the beginning He was a stranger to me
The first I ever saw him
I was walking by the way
a crowd was closely pressing
while He had stopped to pray
what can this be I asked myself?
a rich man's son was dying
and he'd come here to plead
that Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth
would do a wondrous deed
can he do that? I wondered
to take dark loss far from his door
far from his precious son
he wept and prayed the Rabbi
who simply said "it's done"
is that really true? I doubted
rejoicing went the rich man
who'd trusted Jesus' word
I watched and listened to them
but doubted what I'd heard
just a man can't do this!
but then the rich man's servants
came and met him in the way
rejoicing, told their master
his son no longer lay
upon a deathbed dying
but had risen up with joy
and was now completely perfect
a healthy little boy
I was witness to this
and yet I questioned still
that a man could heal another
without potion, touch or pill
was this man a magician?
He went into the synagogue
there in Capernaum
and preached words from Isaiah
and said the time was come
for His words to be quickened
and that He was the one
long spoken of by prophets
the world to overcome
this man says he's Messiah!?
they brought a man before Him
screaming, bound and tied
Jesus cast the devil from him
the man fell as though he'd died
can this be, he casts out devils?
I was more confused than ever
as I stood there in that throng
a normal man can't do such things
could it be I was wrong?
can He possibly be the Messiah?
I went with them and Peter
we wound through streets and lanes
with Jesus sometimes speaking
of the work that yet remained
work? What work?
then coming to his in-laws home
Peter showed a few inside
his wife's mother lie sick abed
with friends close by her side
Jesus spoke and healed her
so the fever fled away
then she rose up and served them
toward the ending of the day
what man can do these things?
then others came to beg Him
to heal them of their woes
so Jesus prayed and healed them all
at Peter's in-laws door
not a one left sickly
He healed them with such ease
I stood amazed at his great power
to cure these men's disease
I must learn more about him!
never had I seen such things
in Israel's sacred land
I intend to follow after him
to try and understand
my other life must wait
I never tired of following
after Jesus and his men
as they roamed about all Israel
and preached of life and sin
I feel the burden of my deeds
he spoke of dead religion, men
whose hearts were as a sword
who taught keeping tradition
was all that pleased the Lord
I left awhile to journey home
to see my land and kin
for I'd been gone for quite awhile
and they worried where I'd been
I can't tell them what I'm doing
I soon returned to Jesus
for all the while away
I longed to be back with him
and to hear him every day
why do I feel this emptiness?
come to me the Rabbi said
then I will take your sin
and give forgiveness for it
so you may enter in
to God the Father's kingdom
where you never shall grow old
and worship Him for ever
in Christ the Shepherd's fold
where no dark thing can enter
no tears or pain to bear
forever there to praise Him
that bought us from despair
he's says plainly that He's the one!
and washed us from our sins
with his own blameless blood
and clasped us to himself
just as a father would
JESUS TEACHES AT THE SEA
we came down to the sea shore
with Jesus teaching still
the crowd was pressing sorely
and couldn't get their fill
He spoke God's word with power
as a prophet of the Lord
then healed all those around Him
with no thought of reward
we'd never heard such things
in synagogues or temples
His words came in such power
that made it seem so simple
never had I heard the prophets so
now Simon's boat was near us
so we few climbed aboard
and Jesus taught the multitude
from just off Galilee's shore
Simon allowed me to come...
we pulled the boat away now
as I'd become a hand
to help with all the nets and gear
and near the Master stand
for in the past few days
I'd seen his gentle stare
though he had said nothing
I knew he was aware
of this quiet, single follower
that often came so near
whenever he was preaching
I was always standing near
I wanted to draw even closer...
He taught of many things
then fading twilight came
and as the people went away
they praised His wondrous name
for his wisdom, love and healing
that never had been seen
in all the land of Israel
since David was their king
MIRACLE OF THE FISHES
we went to sea right after that
as the sun set on the rim
of Galilee's calm waters
and a crew of needy men
I sat in the stern watching him...
then Jesus spoke to Simon
to set their nets once more
the fishermen all doubted
but cast them as before
as soon as they had set them
the boat began to fail
from the straining of the nets
as they pulled against the rail
the nets had filled with fishes
more than they'd ever seen
right to the point of bursting
and we couldn't pull them in
Simon fell to weeping
and went down on his knees
have mercy on us Rabbi
for we're not fit to be
standing in your presence
because I know your name
you are the Lord's Messiah
and for Israel you came
Blessed are you Simon Peter
for this thing you've been shown
came to you from the Father
and was not on your own
See that you tell no one
for in good time they'll know
that I am God's Messiah
as the prophets wrote before
of all things relating to me
of my birth and death and then
of my foretold resurrection
and blood covenant for men
causing the law to be fulfilled
in God's perfect grace and time
for I am His word and power
and all authority is mine
I lay my life down willingly
then I take it up again
for love of man I do this
to redeem all from their sins
JESUS CALMS THE STORM
later a great storm arose
we hoped that it would cease
it looked like we were sinking
but the master slept in peace
finally we all woke him
as high black waves broke oer'
he marveled at our faithlessness
then silenced all the roar
he marvelled at our lack of faith
and never seemed to fear
no natter what was happening
his voice was firm and clear
months went by with me in tow
just watching from the side
as he touched and healed the lepers
and opened up blind eyes
how can this man be God too?
the leaders of the synagogues
all plotted day and night
and tried to catch him in his words
they sought with all their might
but he made them all look foolish
when he answered in a way
that filled the place with power
and took their breaths away
I stood amazed at his authority...
HEALING JAIRUS' DAUGHTER
a man named Jairus came
then at Jesus' feet did plead
for him to quickly come
and meet his daughter's need
for the child was near to death
no physician had the skill
to drive away the plague
that stormed in for to kill
I'd never seen a man more broken
as Jesus walked to Jairus' house
He was pressed hard by the crowds
but suddenly he stopped
then challenged right aloud
He said "who touched my clothes"?
and a little woman cried
"if I hadn't touched you Lord
I'm sure I would have died"
for she'd been to all the doctors
who took her every cent
but still she was afflicted
no matter where she went
she was frail and slight...
he blessed her for her faith
and praised her with his words
but Jairus' daughter passed away
and her neighbors mocked the Lord
so Jesus sent the crowd away
save for the chosen part
then spoke life back into the girl
who sat up with a start
I saw this through a window
the parents were rejoicing
but Jesus merely said
see that you do not tell a soul
and see that she is fed
Continues below