I followed Jesus, the Man Himself for 3 long years or more,
I heard Him preach from mountain tops, I heard Him preach from shore.
I watched Him heal the masses, the blind, the deaf, the lame,
Even those dead four days straight, He healed them just the same.
I shared a meal out in a field with five thousand men at once,
It came from just a little bag, a small boy’s meager lunch.
I watched Him flip the tables as the money hit the floor,
I should have stooped to pick some up; we could have used some more.
Now Mary was a kind sweet soul, but dizzy in her head,
The fragrance that she wasted would a thousand mouths have fed.
I figured Him our king to be, and would break the yoke of Rome,
I thought He’d drive these heathens out from this land our home.
And I would have a cushy job, my hands inside the till,
With all the country’s money, I’m sure I’d get my fill.
Jesus, He had issues, His head was in the clouds,
Another’s voice was in my head, no whisper it was loud.
This voice agreed with the Pharisees, the Rabbi needed help,
And deep inside I must confide, this is how I felt.
He dipped His bread and gave it to me, an honor I had won,
But before I’d had a chance to eat, I had to up and run.
They gave me 30 pesos; we needed some more dough,
I’m sure that when they got Him straight, they’d have to let Him go.
I never thought they’d kill Him, that never crossed my mind,
A little crazy maybe, but not guilty of a crime.
I loved Him like a brother; our days were filled with bliss,
I thought the world of this man; I’d greet Him with a kiss.
A knotted rope and gnarly oak my pain I could not bear,
I’ll tell you now, you’ve got to know that life ain’t always fair.
Now you’d have done the same as me if walking in my shoes,
Sometimes you win, sometimes a draw, sometimes you just plain lose.
Now how bout you who follow Him in noble deed and thought,
Is salvation in your wallet, can heaven dare be bought?
To give your time and labor serves no purpose on its own.
But Jesus, only Jesus, can for our sins atone.
The world is His; He has no need for what your hand obtains,
What He wants He truly wants for you to call His name.
And turn from sin and give to Him, your heart your very soul,
Please don’t concern yourself too much with things you buy with gold.
You would never sell Him out or with a kiss our Lord betray,
But when you bear His Holy name and your heart is far away.
You’re cousin to a traitor, who caused Him so much grief and pain,
When you trade His Love for worldly gain, you’re very much the same.
Before you sin remember then what seems little can be much,
And what you do, good or bad the heart of Jesus it will touch.
Tertius
Even my close friend, someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
Psalm 41:9
A note about “The Pretender”: Not too many rhymes have been written about Judas Iscariot, I suppose; but may we all take note, we can follow Jesus for years, be witness to many miracles, hear sermon after sermon, but if we don’t let Him inside our hearts, it’s all for naught.