The Temptations [1] Poem by Gert Strydom

When He was hungry in the desert
every hungry man spoke along with the demon
when Satan appeared to Him.

When the whole world, the city lay beneath His feet
when that demon wanted Him to jump from that height
He did not want to use His own Godly power,

the light of God shined over Him.
God’s word was unlimited in His heart
when He was hungry in the desert,

when He did not want to create breads like the demon wanted
and did not want to tempt God.
When that demon wanted Him to jump from that height

He was already smitten by every hungry urge
with the cities of every human being beneath Him in the distance.
When Satan appeared to Him

(in His time of tiredness and amok)
the whole world was beneath Him
and He did not want to tempt God

and suddenly His hunger did disappear
when the words of God was in His mouth.
When He was hungry in the desert,

when He stood on the peak of a very high mountain
Jesus did know that He had to suffer,
the whole world was beneath Him,

the power of evil was sophisticated,
and the devil subtle with each suggestion.
When Satan appeared to Him

Jesus did know that He could not avoid the crucifixion.
To express His love for His fellow-man
Jesus did know that He had to suffer

and the light of God was on His face
and the horizon was the border of his eye.
When He was hungry in the desert,
when Satan appeared to Him

He did not want to impress anyone
when the whole world, the city lay beneath His feet.
To express His love for His fellow-man
He did not want to use His own godly power.