The Lord pleads with the Jews

Jesus the Son of God, Himself God.

(The Gospel History, Section 79)

Jesus therefore said, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as the Father taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him. As he spake these things, many believed on him.

The Lord pleads with the Jews

(The Saviour of the World, Vol V Book IV Poem XLII)

“But how shall I convince you? How compel

Your blind eyes to perceive that He is true
Who in His love and pity sent to you

His Son beloved, Ambassador, to tell

“Those things the Father whispered in His ear:

These have I from the housetop cried aloud,
All have imparted to the witless crowd,

For haply some might, understanding, hear.”

So spake the Lord, but no man yet perceived

That of the Father spake He; none was sure
What those things signified He should endure;

Their minds were stirred, but not yet they believed.

Cried the Christ then;—“When ye have lifted up

The Son of Man, too late shall ye perceive
The truth of Him whom ye will not believe,—

When I have drained for you the bitter cup,

“My Father giveth Me: for not alone

Am I in aught I say, or aught I do:
Not wilful, would I My own thought pursue,

But, as God bids Me, would I men atone

“With the solicitous Majesty on high;

I do the things that please Him; hear ye, then;
Let Me not spend in vain on stubborn men

The very words of God: hear, lest ye die!”

Thus pleaded Christ in passionate urgency

With the men He had come to save; and some were moved;
Yea, many believed on Him, who men so loved—

“I am content,” saith He, “for them to die.”

St. John viii. 28-30.

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