THE WORD WAS GOD by Rev. J. E. Rankin

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 3, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 22.

THE WORD WAS GOD.

By Rev. J. E. Rankin

BY REV. J. E. RANKIN.

WITH God he was, was very God, Before the skies were arched abroad, Before the stars were set on high, To syllable His majesty; Ere earth had her foundations laid, Or out of dust was mortal made. With God He was, was very God, He who for us the winepress trod.

The world His coming waited long, The theme of prophecy and song; Yearned up to God through blood and fire, Unsatisfied her one desire; And all creation groaned afresh, To see God manifest in flesh, To see earth's tribes, scattered abroad, Gathered in One, the sons of God.

When Time was ripe, of woman born, Men turned upon Him in their scorn; A Man of sorrows and of grief, In vain He sought on earth relief; Homeless by day, at night no bed, Nor pillow for His weary head; For Him no respite could there be Till finished was His ministry.

He walked beneath the circling sun, Spake but the word, and it was done; Rebuked the waters in their might, Gave to the blind their longed-for sight; He spake, the deaf were quick to hear, The rifled tomb confessed Him near; So gracious He to guide and teach, The common people loved His speech.

The shiv'ring rocks were rent in twain, And earth herself felt throes of pain; The sun for shame, in his high place, Hid from the sight his very face; The startled tombs gave up their dead, When this Man bowed His thorn-crowned head, Who tasted death for you and me, Alone that day on Calvary.

—New York Observer.