Friday 26 July 2019

Look Up!



My poem “Look Up!” had been forming in my heart and mind for several months before I finally found the angle I wanted to write it from. I had the desire to create a poem that would be appropriate for Good Friday as every year in the lead up to Easter I hear people questioning the significance of this special day and what it is Christians actually commemorate.

Having already written one poem called “The Meaning Of Easter” and another called “Resurrection Day,” I felt I wanted to have a poem that focused entirely on Good Friday itself and the depth of what Jesus really achieved for us that day.

It seems to me that the true meaning of Easter has sadly been lost somewhat over the years. For many it’s become nothing more than a two week holiday where we’re inundated with chocolate eggs, easter chicks and fluffy bunnies! Easter is of course one of the most important dates on the Christian calendar however so this inspired a scene in my mind’s eye to take place as I pictured someone coming to me and asking,
“What’s Good Friday all about?” In response my reply would be,
“Come with me, I’ll show you.”


I’ve written this poem from the point of view that I’m literally bringing someone to the foot of the Cross and asking them to look up at their Saviour as He dies to pay for the sins of the world.

Ultimately I pray this poem can be used many times to share the true meaning of Good Friday and how deeply important Christ’s sacrifice was. I hope it can inspire the non-believer to really consider where they stand with Jesus in their heart. Knowing that He laid down His life to pay for their sin I hope this poem helps each soul to see how much God loves them so that they might come to know and love their Saviour personally.

I also pray that these words can inspire those who already know Christ as their Saviour to give thanks once again for the incredible work He did on the Cross on Crucifixion Day. Whether it’s Good Friday or any other day of the year, I hope this poem can inspire us all to fix our eyes on Jesus and look up!
Look up I say! Look up and see the Saviour on the Tree,
The Man who hangs between two thieves and dies for you and me.
Look up and view His beaten form and grasp what sin has done.
Look up and see your punishment inflicted on God’s Son!

Turn not your eyes away from Him, do not avert your gaze,
Look upon His bloodied face and see the price He pays.
His suffering will clear the debt acquired through the ages
So look and see the cost of love as Jesus pays sin’s wages!

Forsaken by the Father for a moment on the Tree
So we won’t be forsaken for all eternity!
Make no claim of innocence, remove all pomp and pride,
The Saviour dies to save your soul so do not turn aside.

This scene of gruesome horror has been met for me and you,
Look up and give our mighty God the honour He is due.
Becoming sin for us, so we may be viewed as holy.
Bound willingly by chords of love, behold the King of Glory!

Observe the thieves on either side, both struggling for breath;
Both convicted criminals and both condemned to death.
Equal in position as they pay for what they’ve done,
Yet far apart in views as they now look upon God’s Son.

One curses and reviles Him, rejects His Holy name,
Determined he will face his death still cloaked in sin and shame.
The other sees Divinity upon the Saviour’s face,
Acknowledging Christ’s Godship, he receives the gift of grace!

One condemns himself to death despite Christ’s sacrifice,
The other has eternal life to dwell in Paradise!
Look up and see the choices made, though they be far apart
And ask which one now represents the choice made in your heart.

Consider now your options and respond to Jesus’ call,
Look up and see the Cross of Christ, provision made for all!
What wonderful assurance to know we are forgiven!
Deserving not His grace and yet this gift we have been given.

Look up I say and praise Him for His mercy and His power!
Sing about the God of strength who helps us every hour.
Glorify His mighty name, the King of our defence,
Salvation and redemption have been bought at Christ’s expense!

Nothing we have done will let us enter Heaven’s Gate,
“Good deeds” will build a stairway but it can never hold sin’s weight.
Trust in Jesus’ sacrifice and trust His work alone,
Look up to realms of Heaven, He now sits upon His Throne!

He said that “It is finished!” and so now the work is done,
Deliverance defines those who will praise the Risen Son!
Considering what Christ endured to tear death’s jaws apart;
This Man who died between two thieves will steal your very heart!

Let the God who came as Man astound you every day,
He’ll fill your life with wonder and He’ll steal your breath away.
Look up as we anticipate the next part of the story!
Look up and see the Risen King returning in His glory!


1 John 1:8-9
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Luke 23:39-43
“Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.””

Psalm 32:1-2
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

Romans 4:23-5:2
“Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offences, and was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”


Download a PDF of this poem to keep and share