Jesus the Son of Man · Chapter
Rumanous, a Greek Poet explained
Rumanous, a Greek poet, reflects on the poetic and nature-loving nature of Jesus, describing how Jesus saw, heard, and felt what others could not.
What happens
Rumanous, a Greek poet, reflects on the poetic and nature-loving nature of Jesus, describing how Jesus saw, heard, and felt what others could not. He recounts Jesus' tenderness toward nature, children, and simple gifts, and his deep connection to the heavens and the earth. Rumanous acknowledges his own poetic inadequacy in comparison to Jesus, the sovereign of all poets, and chooses silence, listening instead to the divine Poet.
Themes in this chapter
Nature and the Divine
Rumanous emphasizes Jesus' intimate connection with nature, seeing the divine in the grass, flowers, and trees, and his promise that even the little green things will be in his kingdom.
Humanity and Divinity of Jesus
The chapter portrays Jesus as both fully human—enjoying wine, pomegranates, and almond blossoms—and as a transcendent poet whose songs reach beyond earthly ears.
Characters to notice
- Jesus
Described as a poet who loves all things of loveliness, from blades of grass to almond blossoms, and whose songs are for other ears beyond this world.
- Rumanous
The Greek poet narrator who, after standing before Jesus in Bethany, realizes his own poetic limitations and chooses silence, listening to the divine Poet.
Key passages
“Little green things, you shall be with me in my kingdom, even as the oaks of Besan, and the cedars of Lebanon.”
Even the smallest blades of grass will have a place in my kingdom, just as the mighty oaks and cedars do.
Jesus' words to the grass, as recalled by Rumanous, highlight his reverence for all creation.
“Once I too deemed myself a poet, but when I stood before Him in Bethany, I knew what it is to hold an instrument with but a single string before one who commands all instruments.”
I used to think I was a poet, but when I met Jesus in Bethany, I realized my talent was like a one-stringed instrument compared to his mastery of all music.
Rumanous expresses his humility and awe in the presence of Jesus' poetic and divine nature.