I enjoyed how my rhyming paraphrase of John 1 told the story of Jesus in vibrant yet plain language, so I had to continue rhyming John 2 and 3. If you didn’t read John 1, start there. Then come back to read Chapters 2 and 3.
I wrote all three chapters in a fun meter so it might help engage the kids in your life (including the big ones). In the second and third chapters of John, Jesus began performing miracles, explaining He is the Savior, and foretelling His resurrection. Through Him we may have eternal life. John the Baptist announced Jesus’ coming in Chapter 1, and in Chapter 3 he announced His salvation.
On to the rhymes and the truth about eternal life…
The Gospel of John
Chapter 2 – He Who’s the Son
A wedding occurred a couple days later.
Guests one and guests all, with joy the host catered.
Among those who came
Was Jesus acclaimed,
And men of His crew.
His mother came, too.
And wouldn’t you know, they drank all of the wine.
But watch God’s dear Son as He gives them a sign.
His mother did ask
He rise to the task.
Tho’ not the right place,
No time did He waste.
“Fill jars with water,” He commanded the team,
And those jars were big, oh, as big as can be.
The host took a drink
And stopped to bethink,
‘This tasty new glass
Was saved for the last?’
A miracle, yes, all the servants knew well.
A miracle, sure, and they’re sure to retell.
From water to wine,
It’s surely a sign
That Jesus is God,
And God to applaud.
The host did proclaim to the groom his surprise,
While guests drank new wine with new joy in their eyes.
This, just the first,
Of proof God’s on earth.
His message is true.
Now His people knew.
From there Jesus went to Capernaum town.
He stayed for three days just before heading down
With mom and His men
To celebrate when
God spared the firstborn
Of those He forewarned.
At Jerusalem, there inside temple courts,
He saw money changed and the selling of sorts.
“The temple, you use
For such an abuse!
Of God’s holy place
You’ve made a disgrace!”
“Don’t take advantage of those who will worship.
Hearts of devotion need not make a purchase.”
He crafted a whip
And, with a sure grip,
Dispelled He the wrongs
That didn’t belong.
He drove out the doves, and the cattle and sheep,
And tossed all the money. He made a clean sweep.
The Jews were distraught,
So answers they sought,
“What gives you the right
For such an ill plight?”
Now, when He answered, it raised an odd subject.
He’d rebuild the temple? Um, that’s a bit suspect.
“Destroy it,” He said,
“Destroy every thread.
Within just three days
The temple I’ll raise.”
They reasoned it took forty-six years to build.
How then could His claim ever so be fulfilled?
The temple is Him,
They’d crucify grim.
But after He dies,
He then would arise.
And when He does rise, His men would recall,
He said it back then, and said it to all.
They’d believe e’en more.
His words are for sure.
It’s true. He’s the One.
He’s God’s only Son.
As people stood near and saw all He had done,
They thought they believed but their hearts were not won.
For some come and go
Like wind to and fro.
A much deeper trust;
Their’s must be robust.
Chapter 3 – He Who’s the Savior
Now there was a man they call Nicodemus,
A lead Pharisee with questions for Jesus.
He snuck out at night,
Called Jesus Rabbi,
And said without fraud,
“I know you’re from God.”
“If you want to learn,” Jesus said to the man,
“You need to be born – born again, yes, again.”
“But how can that be?,”
This man urged his plea,
“I’m already born.
Oh, now I’m forlorn.”
So, Jesus explained how this new birth takes place,
“A birth not of flesh, no, that’s just not the case.
It’s spiritual birth,
Not one of this earth.
You don’t know this news,
Yet you teach the Jews?”
And Jesus went on, “Telling truth is our aim,
Yet you don’t accept the good news we proclaim.
The truth we confirm
In simplest of terms.
Now you must believe,
To heart, let it cleave.”
“I will be captured and crucified wrongly,
But all can believe – believe in Me strongly.
For everyone’s sick,
And death can be quick,
But we can be healed –
Eternally sealed.”
“God loved the world so, that He gave up His Son,
And those who believe, yea, their death is undone.
They no longer die,
And this is no lie.
No, they will have life –
E-VER-LAST-ING LIFE.”
“God sent not His Son to this world to condemn.
He sent His Son here to give new life to them.
Believe as you ought:
Condemned you are not.
Reject in your heart:
New life cannot start.”
“It’s so important to believe in God’s Son.
He’s not just His Son. He’s God’s only dear one.
So here is the truth.
There’s no need to sleuth.
We walk in the light,
Or wander at night.”
“People love darkness, for it hides the dark sins.
But what they don’t know is that nobody wins.
They love their bad ways.
They don’t love the day,
For it shows the dark –
The dark in their hearts.”
“But if we are true, we come into the light,
And all those who watch, they see people upright.
We walk true to God
Without a facade.
We live in plain view.
God sees that we’re true.”
Next, journeyed Jesus to a countryside north.
His men went there too. They spent time and so forth.
They baptized, they did.
Lo, they were amid
John baptizing too.
Yes, John too. Who knew!?
Of course, Jesus knew, when he went to Aenon,
For there was a truth John’s team had to lean on.
They argued about
Who had all the clout.
“How can this man, too,
So baptize like you?”
“You don’t understand,” John replied and explained.
“I’m called to declare, as God surely ordained:
Messiah is He,
Above you and me.
Yes, joy fills my soul,
As He gets the glow.”
He comes from above, and He’s so above all,
But we are from earth, oh, we may as well crawl,
Because He is great.
There is no debate.
But few have believed,
So, few have received.
God sent me to speak, so speak I will do.
Please take it to heart. This truth’s meant for you.
Reject God’s true Word:
Your death is uncured.
Believe who God sent:
Your life will not end.
Go here to read chapter 1.
If you want to know more about Jesus and what it means to know Him as Savior, please email me at authordlv@att.net.
Read more blog posts here.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Leave a Reply