Across the Jordan

The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’—and the scripture cannot be annulled—can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there. John 10: 31-42

Across the Jordan

I cannot argue with you any more
I will go to the other side of the river
New Jersey side or the Canadian side
I will seek God in the absence of furor.

There is mess and agony on this side
genuine compassion and concern dwell
among the poor, the restless and broken
God lives here in this lonesome place.

You can dress up your elegant cruelty
you can sell ads to your mean deceit
I will wander at the water's edge
seeking miracles that come from loving.

You can shun me and reject me
hurl insults and try to kill me too
I will be the child of God created
for love of this broken and messy world.