There Was a Man Once, Truly That

There Was a Man Once, Truly That, written and narrated by Errol Strider with music by Charles Mozelle.  A poetic description of the life of Jesus (Jeshua Ben Joseph) from the point of view of "The Urantia Book" The Urantia Book tells the story of Jesus' life and teachings that goes beyond what is in the New Testament, and reveals aspects of his life and teachings that have not been recorded before.  According the the Urantia Book, Jesus' main purpose was to reveal the nature of God and the potential of what each of us can become as we, like Jesus, align ourselves with the fundamental intention of life--to love, create, and evolve. The poem touches on the some of the unassuming and magnificent ways Jeshua showed up in his incarnation. Here is the text of the poem if you'd care to read along with the recording: There was a man once, truly that. Who is known for the cross that he bore? But who laughed in the market And slept on the floor Who designed riverboats in Capernaum, Studied the ways of all men In order to rule in perfection With its trials, upsets, and demands A universe of 10 million planets Which the man, who upholds it Designed, fashioned and planned. There was a man once, truly that. Who embraced the mortal dilemma With a boundless trust And abiding faith. Who was immersed in a River Jordan Allowing himself to give in To life as we know it in fullness With its sores, its aches and injustice But which serves a great hidden purpose Which the man, who entered its bowels Could foresee what to us is so dim. There was a man once, truly that Who transcended all tradition and dogma Who forgave the sin And loved the sinner Who feared not one who attacked him But attempted to show them the truth. By example, he set in their presence, With his words, his acts, and entreaties He sought to convince those around him That all men could live as he Secure, abandoned and free. There was a man once, truly that A man who broke from his elders Made friends with the poor Played with the kids Made choices like all other men To use power for good or for evil To be simple or prideful and vain Battled with grief, failure, betrayal, But still to remain steadfast to the God, Who this man knew always as Father and friend. There was a man once, truly that. Who did not what others expected Disappointing his pupils Estranging his mother Rejecting requests of the mass When they wanted to make him king Yet allowed them to place down the palms As he rode on an ass to the city Where they rejected once and for all This true man, who understood them And forgave their blindness and gall. There was a man once, truly that. A man whom we all misinterpret Who knows all as his brother To the exclusion of none Who did not really die on the cross To wash away our sins But to reveal a God of mercy Who forgives, only loves, has compassion On his ignorant children who err So this man died only to show them How far love would go for them. There was a man once, truly that. Whose life on this beleaguered planet Was a model for all to behold. Who revealed our humanity to us What each person can actually become When we join with this man in knowing The Spirit that indwells our hearts. And as he rose from the darkness of death And appeared to those who knew him He showed us the path to aliveness… the deep forever mystery Of the timeless journey of love.