The New Birth
Born of water and the Spirit,
Lord, you know, I cannot do it.
The new birth is from above,
Wrought by pangs of pregnant love.
Through blood and water they were born,
My womb, their home, my flesh was torn.
I plead, I cry on their behalf,
I’ve fallen face down in the gap.
You prayed, you hoped, you labored well.
You did your best, now time will tell.
You told them stories about me,
And still, they cannot seem to see.
At the end of what you can do,
You’ve turned to me to help you through.
Leave the new birth up to me,
It’s from the Spirit above you see.
Barren wombs opened
To parted Red Sea,
Life to dry bones spoken
What is that for me?
“God of the impossible,” my name
Who calms the sea and heals the lame,
Who calls “Lazarus, come out!”
The deepest darkness thus can rout.
Let go of fear and all suspicion.
Watch me do what I do best:
Bring dead things to life and mission
And weary souls to rest.
If you knew what I know now
You’d gladly comprehend.
You’d be content with what I give,
And wait until the end.
Look to me as you once did:
I will not let it rest.
One thing I ask of you is this:
To trust my timing’s best.
Then the water from my side
Flowing together with your tears
Which I’ve collected all these years,
Will suddenly become a tide.
Your soul was pierced, so was my heart
And so, I understand.
Stand up my child, let us depart,
See now: the promised land!
You and your children sit at my table
Retelling the story of how I was able
To see their birth include your tears,
Reviving hearts, relieving fears.
Through blood and water you bore them,
My Spirit came down like a dove.
The blood and water outpoured then,
Were the means for their birth from above.
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