John 1, a Rhyming Paraphrase

To help ring in Christmas, I hope you enjoy this paraphrase of John 1. I wrote it in Seuss-like meter so it might help engage the kids in your life (including the big ones). The first chapter of John introduces Jesus as the Savior for all - the Son of God, and the Messiah for which the Jews waited so long. We also get to know John the Baptist, God's chosen messenger who explained the good news of Jesus to the Jews. Read about how it all plays out...

The Gospel of John

Chapter 1 - He Who's the Word

There is a He, who is also the Word.

This He who's the Word, spoke before He was heard.

He spoke before ears

Were on heads that could hear,

With nothing around,

Not even the ground.

This He who's the Word, is also the Maker,

He's with God, and is God, but no, not a faker.

He surely made all,

Like trees, short and tall.

There's nothing, for sure,

That's not made by the Word.

Now, John was a man who the Maker made later,

To speak of this Word across the equator.

He spoke of a Light –

A Light that shines bright.

This Light is this He;

A great He, you'll see.

So He is the Word, the Maker, the Light.

But who is He, really? Of whom do I write?

Of whom did John speak

Each week after week?

Read on, O read more.

There're lots to explore.

This Light was a light to help us all see;

To see who God is; to see God is He.

But not just to see Him;

But also believe in.

He's one you can trust,

And trust him, you must.

He came down to Earth, this Maker, to be

With creatures He made; with you and with me.

The Maker we saw,

As we stood in awe -

The great Son of God,

So sweet and unflawed.

Coming with sureness, John shouted out loud,

“This is the He I’ve been talking about.

He’s ever so gracious,

Oh, sooooo, that it’s spacious.

He’s all that is truth,

With no ounce of spoof.”

So, so much the truth that the law, He just shatters.

For when you compare, He’s really what matters.

But not just the law,

He surpasses us all.

He's great as can be.

This Word we can see.

He shows us who god is, whom we've never seen.

He shows us directly, with nothing between.

But why did He come?

It's not just for fun.

There has to be more.

What has he in store?

But first back to John, at the Jordan, waist height,

Baptizing people who follow the Light.

Many dip under

While some watch in wonder.

And others just stare.

But some came to snare.

For some came to trick him. That’s not very nice.

They made him think twice – think twice, and think thrice.

"Now this may sound silly,

But who are you, really?

Give us the facts

Before we go back."

"Are you the one who saves and makes pure?"

"You're not even close," said John, "That's for sure.

No, you don’t know me;

I’m no one, you see

Elijah? Not I.

No, I’m just a guy.

He quoted Isaiah, a prophet of old.

"The Lord is soon coming, just like it's been told.

Get ready, you hear.

All people be clear.

It's He, it's the Light,

The Maker's in sight."

Some Pharisees wondered, "Why, then, do you baptize,

If you aren't Elijah, the Prophet, or Christ?"

"Don't get me wrong.

For I'm only John.

There's better, I say.

I'm showing the way."

"The Word, who is God, the Maker of earth,

Has been here for years; has been here since birth.

From cute little toes

A Savior arose.

And we never guessed,

We really are blessed."

This Savior, the Savior, is better than best.

No other compares. He outdoes the rest.

He's best by a lot,

That worthy, I'm not,

To even undo

A lace on His shoe.

The next day, John saw Him, "That's Jesus, no doubt!

This is the Light I've been talking about.

He came here with grace - Our sins to erase.

He came from on high.

He came here to die."

"Now, I did not know Him. I know that sounds strange.

Until it was so, as God did arrange.

So, just to be clear,

I'm baptizing here,

To give to the Jews This awesome good news."

Then John said a Spirit that flew like a dove,

The Spirit of God, has come from above.

“O, watch it,” God said,

“Rest soft on the head

Of my Son, sent by me, And be sure, this is He.”

So John watched the Spirit; it stayed on God’s Son.

He knew beyond doubt that He was the One –

The One that God chose

To give life to those

Who trust Him as Lord,

The Savior adored.

The next day John stood with two other men.

“The Lamb of God, Look!,” John said, “Oh, that’s Him!”

As Jesus did pass, The two followed fast,

And stayed until 4,

With Christ, with the Lord.

Teacher, they called Him, throughout that great day.

And one told his brother to come, and he came.

Now, Andrew was he,

Who brought Simon to see,

The Messiah, the Lord,

Who can’t be ignored.

Then Christ said to Simon, “This is my aim.

I now call you Cephas. I just changed your name.

By interpretation,

He’s laid a foundation;

He laid a strong block,

For Cephas means Rock.

To Galilee next, Jesus started his way.

That was His choice for the following day.

As He started out

On that Galilee route

To Philip, you see,

He said, “Follow me.”

“We found Him,” said Philip, “Its Jesus – the One.

Yes, Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph’s dear son.”

He shouted with glee,

“Nathanael, come see.”

But all he could say,

“Naaaazareth!? No way.”

Yet still he came, and out of the blue,

Christ said, “An Israelite, who’s honest and true.”

“Hey, how did you know?,”

Nathanael did glow.

“I’ve seen you,” said He,

“’Neath figs in a tree.”

Nathanael then answered, “Good teacher, I sing,

You’re surely God’s Son; you’re Israel’s King!”

To this Jesus said,

“You doubted instead,

And now you’re impressed,

But that’s not my best.”

For Heaven will open, and then you will see

Your special relation to God is through me.

See angels in flight,

The angels onsite.

You’ll see I’m the door

Through which they will soar

If you want to know more about Jesus or John the Baptist and what it means to follow Jesus, the Light, please email me at authordlv@attnet.com.

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