The wilderness road

Haiku of inclusion and welcome

An angel told him:

take the wilderness road, south,

heading to Gaza.

Philip did as told,

not knowing who he would find.

He found a eunuch.

An important man,

the eunuch was heading home,

from Jerusalem.

In his chariot

reading Isaiah, puzzled

at what it might mean.

Do you understand?

Philip asked. I need someone

to guide me, he said.

Like a lamb, silent

before its shearer; this speaks

to us of Jesus.

They came to a pool.

What prevents my baptism?

the eunuch asked him.

He was baptised. The

Ethiopian entered

into God’s kingdom.

Outsider by race,

cut off in more ways than one;

he is made welcome.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Much bolder than before

Haiku for preachers

Prisoner Peter,

now much bolder than before,

is charged with preaching.

His resurrection

words are an embarrassment

to temple leaders.

Rulers, elders, scribes

led by the chief priest, and friends,

call him to account.

From where does it come,

your power; and in whose name

have you done this thing?

Peter tells it straight.

You’re questioning a good deed?

A sick man is healed!

‘Tis in Jesus’ name,

the Christ who was crucified.

God raised him to life!

The stone rejected

by you, who were the builders,

is God’s cornerstone.

There is no other

name in heaven or on earth;

he is salvation.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Walking, praising God

Haiku of witness

People came running.

having seen the crippled man

walking, praising God.

Peter points to God.

Such power isn’t from us,

we can’t make him walk!

Abraham, Isaac,

and Jacob; it was their God

who sent us Jesus.

You rejected him,

had him put to death, but God

raised him from the dead.

He was the author

of life, the one in whom all

people find true life.

By faith in Jesus

this man is healed and made strong;

you can all see this.

You and your rulers

were blinded. Prophets told us

the Christ must suffer.

You were ignorant,

now you know. Return to God,

and be forgiven.

© Ken Rookes 2024

All in common

Utopian haiku

Is it socialist,

this challenging description

of the early church?

They thought that their Lord

would return soon; possessions

no longer mattered!

Believers trusting

God, and trusting each other.

I like to think so.

Grace surrounding them;

God’s grace revealed in Jesus

shining out through them

No one was in need.

Generosity, sharing;

the pattern of life.

Lands and houses sold,

with the proceeds freely shared.

All held in common.

Powerful witness

to resurrection grace, hope;

made real in their midst.

His return delayed,

the socialist venture ends.

A pity, really.

© Ken Rookes 2024

The day is coming!

Haiku for partying

Prophet Isaiah

paints his partying canvas

in bright, dancing hues.

Come to God’s mountain,

gather with your host, the Lord

of welcome and love.

A feasting from God,

an invitation for all,

no matter your tribe.

Rich food, premium

wines, plenty for ev’ryone,

marking sorrow’s end.

Death will no longer

be held in dread, God will wipe

tears from all faces.

Where God’s people failed,

where disgrace casts its shadow,

God will make things right.

This day is coming!

We have waited long; rejoice

in God’s salvation.

© Ken Rookes 2024

The empty tomb

Haiku of surprise

Mark gives us terror,

confusion, with the women

fleeing from the tomb.

Mary Magdalene,

much maligned, was there for him,

in life and in death.

The first day, early,

both Marys and Salome

went to anoint him.

We have the spices,

but who will remove the stone

that we may enter?

They came to the tomb;

the stone had been rolled away.

A man in white spoke.

No need for alarm!

You seek Jesus who was killed;

he’s not here, he lives!

Tell his disciples,

Peter too; they will find him

there, in Galilee.

They were terrified,

the women. They fled the scene

and spoke to no one.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Haiku of the Passion (Mark)

 

Haiku of the Passion (Mark)

They plotted his death

Wait ‘til the festival’s passed,

avoid a riot.

Bethany’s perfume

poured out over Jesus’ head.

Anticipation.

Why was it not sold

for the poor? She has done this

ahead of my death.

The passover meal.

This is my body, broken;

my blood spilt for you.

Even must I die

I will not desert you, Lord.

Is that so, Peter?

In Gethsemane,

three disciples, asked to watch.

Weariness prevails.

Can’t you stay awake?

Your spirits may be willing,

but your flesh is weak.

He is arrested,

and led away to be tried.

They all run from him.

The verdict: guilty

of blasphemy. The sentence:

inevitable.

His fate is confirmed

by Pilate, he is beaten,

mocked, led out to die.

Lifted on a cross.

The mob mentality rules;

the mocking persists.

The sign above reads,

This is the king of the Jews.

He cries out, and dies.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Entrance

Haiku of anticipation

Approaching the Mount

named for olives, Jesus sends

two of them ahead.

Bethpage, Bethany?

Whatever; the next village.

They found the donkey.

They explain: The Lord

needs it, he will send it back

when he is finished.

Jesus rode to town.

(What does he think he’s doing?

A royal entrance?)

The people spread cloaks,

branches on the road ahead

to welcome their king.

Hosanna! Blessed

is he who comes in God’s name!

Quite a sensation.

Hosanna, O son

of David! Expectations

are heightened, somewhat.

Came to the temple.

Jesus entered, looked about.

Being late, he left.

© Ken Rookes 2024

A new covenant

Haiku of recommencement

Broken covenants;

a sad record of failure

and good intentions.

Not much success here:

promises of blessing, but

failed obligations.

Trust and faithfulness,

obedience to the law,

are what God expects

Just as a husband

cares for his wife, so the Lord

cares for God’s people.

A new covenant

is needed, the other ones

haven’t worked at all.

A new covenant

with Israel and Judah;

this time it will work!

I will put my law

within them; they’ll know, ‘twill be

written in their hearts.

They’ll be my people,

all of them, they will know me.

They won’t need teaching.

I will be their God,

forgiving iniquity,

forgetting their sin.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Healing and life

Haiku for those who grumble

The people grumbled,

impatient with their progress,

circling Edom.

Why have you brought us

out of Egypt, to die here,

in the wilderness?

No food, no water;

we detest the stuff we eat,

this pitiful food!

God was not impressed,

sending poisonous serpents

to bite the people.

Many people died.

They learned their lesson, saying,

sorry, we have sinned.

Moses prayed to God.

God answered: The serpents stay,

but no one need die.

Mount a bronze serpent,

on a pole. Those bitten shall

look on it and live.

It happened like this:

Those who looked upon the snake

found healing and life.

© Ken Rookes 2024