The Ins and Outs of Jesus

Jesus never fit into the Inn crowd
there was just no room.
From the very start those in-power people
had very little use for Jesus.
Moreover, they were increasingly offended
by his accusation that they lacked insight.
In the end, they were incensed
and looked for any way to do him in.
Even the Romans had no use for Jesus,
although Pilate’s wife believed he was innocent.
It was inevitable, he was in for it.
In the final hours a cross, and then interred in a tomb.

But Jesus could not be kept in,
he burst out of the grave on the third day!
Without a doubt,
no locked door could keep him out.
He knew what he was about,
with his ministry to the outcast,
the outlaws, the out of luck.
He knew the outcome;
he would not be outdone
by the clout of the politically powerful.
His disciples never forgot the mountaintop
where he stood outblazing the sun.
On that final outing on the beach
he outdid himself, making breakfast and speaking of love,
and then he was lifted out of sight.
This was before the outpouring of the Spirit.

Those are the ins and outs of the story,
and the bottom line is,
Jesus calls with a question
which cannot be ignored:
“Will you come in?”