What If I Were Jesus?

What if I were Jesus, and I passed you on the street,
Would you reach out to embrace me...or hope we'd never meet?
Would you judge me by my looks, to decide if I'm your style,
Or stop what you are doing, just to sit with me awhile?

Would you listen as I tell you, of my hurts, and grief, and pain?
Or secretly be thinking, how much I have complained…
Would you share some soup with me, to fill my empty soul,
Or say that I am hungry too...and I only have one bowl.

What if I had one shirt to wear, would you give me one of yours,
Or tell me that you have no time, to search your chest of drawers.
What if I was weary, needing a place to lay my head?
Would you lead me to your bedroom, and offer up your bed?

What if I had an illness, would you bring me to your home?
Or tell me that you'll pray for me, to make it on my own.
What if I was brokenhearted, and tossed away by man,
Would you tell me that you're sorry, but just can't understand.

I may not look like Jesus, as I pass you on the street,
But something in my eyes should look familiar as we meet...
I am vessel He has chosen, to try the hearts of men,
For whatever's done to me, is also done to Him.

Matthew 25:40
And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

This poem was a finalist in the October 2009 poetry contest