# Concerning Jesus explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

The speaker reflects on Jesus as the ultimate artist and poet, whose life and actions embody divine truth. He contrasts human artistic endeavors—sculpture, painting, poetry, music—with Jesus's living incarnation of God's will, emphasizing that Jesus's suffering and death were the ultimate act of creation, redeeming humanity and inspiring all true art.

## Themes in this chapter

### Redemption and Grace

Jesus's death and resurrection are portrayed as the ultimate act of redemption, transforming humanity and defeating death.

### Suffering and Purification

Jesus's suffering and shameful death are depicted as necessary for purification and the birth of a new humanity.

### Nature as Divine Revelation

Earth is described as Jesus's living picture, where truth is shadowed in nature, accessible to both child and king.

## Character check-ins

### Jesus Christ

Portrayed as the divine sculptor, painter, poet, and architect whose life and sacrifice embody God's truth and inspire all art.

### God

Referred to as the creator who quickens clay and makes eyes, and as the Father whom Jesus reveals.

### David

Mentioned as King David who viewed the starry round and played the psaltery, representing the kingly seer.

### Unknown

The speaker who addresses Jesus directly, expressing admiration and theological reflection.

## Key lines

> If thou hadst been a sculptor, what a race Of forms divine had thenceforth filled the land!

If you had been a sculptor, you would have created countless beautiful statues.

_The speaker imagines Jesus as a sculptor, but then asserts that God's true sculpture is living humanity._

> Thou didst appear, walking unknown abroad, God’s living sculpture, all-informed of God.

You appeared on earth, unrecognized, as God's living statue, completely filled with God's spirit.

_Jesus is described as the living embodiment of God, not a mere statue._

> O poet Jesus! at thy holy feet I should have lien, sainted with listening;

O Jesus, poet! I would have lain at your holy feet, blessed by listening to you.

_The speaker expresses a desire to have been a disciple of Jesus, listening to his poetic teachings._

> Thou wast God’s tragedy, writ in tears and blood!

You were God's tragedy, written in tears and blood.

_Jesus's life is seen as a divine tragedy, contrasting with the idea of a poet._

> Life-seed thou diedst, that Death might lose his power, And thou, with rooted stem and shadowy leaf, Rise, of humanity the crimson flower.

You died as a life-giving seed so that Death would lose its power, and you would rise as the crimson flower of humanity.

_Jesus's death and resurrection are compared to a seed that dies to produce a flower, symbolizing new life for humanity._

> Open the deaf ear, wake the sleeping eye, And Lo, musicians, painters, poets—all Trooping instinctive, come without a call!

Open the deaf ear, wake the sleeping eye, and behold, musicians, painters, and poets all come instinctively, without being called.

_Jesus's healing of spiritual senses enables all artists to arise naturally._

> Our ears thou openedst; mad’st our eyes to see. All they who work in stone or colour fair, Or build up temples of the quarried air, Which we call music, scholars are of thee.

You opened our ears and made our eyes see. All who work in stone, color, or music are your students.

_Jesus is the ultimate teacher of all artists, having opened human perception to divine truth._

> Thy praise was not that thou didst know, or feel, Or show, or love, but that thou didst the truth.

Your praise is not that you knew, felt, showed, or loved, but that you did the truth.

_Jesus's greatness lies in his actions, not just his knowledge or emotions._

> Never but thee was there a man in sooth, Never a true crown but thy crown of thorn!

There has never been a true man except you, and no true crown except your crown of thorns.

_Jesus is the only genuine human, and his crown of thorns is the only true crown._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/concerning-jesus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters