“The Dawn That Shattered Death”

A poem from the perspective of Nicodemus, representing the glory of the Resurrection - of Christ and symbolically, in the new birth. 

Within a tomb hewn new from rock, where none had lain before, 

We placed His wounded, holy frame beside the city’s roar. 

Near Calvary’s cruel cross we wrapped Him, myrrh and aloes pressed, 

While friends crouched low in shattered hope, by Death so sore distressed. 

Yet I recalled His midnight words: that hearts could rise anew, 

A birth the wind of heaven brings the breath the Spirit drew. 

So, in the hush of shadowed hours, we left Him in that place, 

And rolled the stone to seal the tomb, our tears still on His face.

 

But just before the break of dawn, the trembling earth made known, 

That heaven’s host in shining robes had come to roll the stone.

And when the fearful women came, they saw the angel there; 

They heard him speak, “He is not here - He’s risen, do not fear!” 

They saw the place where He had lain, the cloths still folded fair, 

And with great fear and joyful hearts they ran the news to share. 

But on the way they met the Risen One along the brightening way, 

And worshipped Him, the Son of God, as night resigned to day.

 

Defeated Death, displaced by dawn, dethroned, disarmed, and slain, 

Could hold no power, for God Himself displayed His might again. 

As by th’ Eternal Spirit once the Lamb of God should die, 

So, by the Father’s glory He was raised as Lord on high. 

The One who, in the form of God, did not His rights enshrine, 

But emptied out His reputation to take on form like mine, 

And in that frail likeness, though forever still Divine, 

He scorned the cross, endured the shame, obeyed God’s own design.

 

So, God exalted Christ on high and gave Him that great Name 

That stands above all other names, to Jesus endless fame, 

That at that peerless, glorious Name, all knees shall humbly bend, 

In heaven, earth, and realms below His Lordship all commend. 

The empty tomb stands as the turning point of this dark and ruined world,

New life restored where hope had died and Satan’s malice hurled. 

This child, once bound in deathlike night, now lives, was lost and has been found, 

Thus, resurrection is the birth by which my life is crowned.

Mark Humber 06.04.2026 

The School Where Jesus Trod

And it came to pass, as I journeyed through the gates thereof,  

I lifted up mine eyes, and behold, a place of peace.  

For the principal walked in the midst of the young,  

Speaking kindly unto them, as a shepherd among his flock.  

And the staff, with gladness of heart, greeted one another;  

They inquired after the welfare of their brethren,  

And they bare one another’s burdens,  

And lifted holy hands in prayer without ceasing.  

And the teachers ministered unto the children,  

Not in knowledge alone, but in spirit and in truth.  

They tended the souls committed unto them, 

Strengthening the weak, guiding the eager,  

And teaching with diligence, as stewards of a sacred trust.  

And the students rejoiced before the Lord;  

Their countenances were bright, and their hearts were steadfast.  

For they beheld a vision of excellence,  

And ran their race with patience,  

Knowing that character is the path,  

And Christ the Everlasting Light upon it.  

Thus was Christ in the midst of them,  

Even as the pillar of fire in the wilderness.  

And all things were done unto His glory;  

For excellence was their measure,  

And righteousness their crown.  

And I departed from thence with wonder in my soul,  

Saying, "Surely the Lord hath sanctified this place;  

Surely His hand is upon this people;  

And His praise shall be in their midst for evermore."

6/2/2026 (written in KJV style) 

The Cross We Carry

It is no sculpted timber raised against the sky,  

No monument of stone that time will calcify;  

The cross of Christ is nearer,

a weight against the bone,  

A truth that settles in the flesh  

when we must walk alone.  

It rests upon the heart in nights of aching loss,  

When graves are freshly dug  

and love bears winter’s cost.  

In bereavement’s hollow silence,  

when tears refuse to cease,  

His cross becomes our company,  

His wounds our borrowed peace.  

It presses on the body when pain will not relent,  

When breath is thin with suffering  

and strength feels nearly spent.  

For He too bore the torment  

that tore through nerve and vein;  

We find Him in our weakness,  

a fellowship of pain.  

It shadows us in moments  

when loved ones turned away,  

When rejection’s bitter sentence  

is all they choose to say.  

For Christ was left deserted,  

betrayed by those He knew;  

The cross becomes our shelter  

when hatred’s arrows flew.  

So let the world keep symbols  

of polished, distant grace,

The Christian bears a cross  

that time cannot erase.  

Held close against the body,  

engraved in soul and scar,  

It binds our wounds to Jesus’ wounds,  

and makes His suffering ours.  

Mark Humber 4/2/26

The Midnight Cry

A whisper stirs the dark, then rises like a flame:  

“Awake, you slumbering ones - the Bridegroom calls your name.”

The heavens hold their breath; the earth begins to sigh,  

For judgment walks the night when sounds the midnight cry.  

The days of Noah speak, their warning still alive,

A world absorbed in ease, yet doomed when floods arrive.  

So now the signs align; the hour draws swiftly near,  

And those who mock the truth will tremble when they hear.  

The trumpet soon will break the veil of mortal air;  

The Lord stands in the clouds, His glory to declare.  

The righteous rise in joy, the faithless shrink in dread,

For every secret thought is weighed and swiftly read.  

O people, heed the call - let hearts be trimmed with light;  

Cast off the works of dusk, walk sober in the night.  

The cry will split the skies, no moment to deny,

Be ready for the King, when comes the midnight cry.  

Mark Humber 4/2/2026

Have a God New Year

I. In the Valley of Shadows

When sorrow veils the morning light,

And tears like rivers freely flow,

When prayers are groans in deepest night,

And hope lies buried deep below—

Then Christ, the Man of Sorrows, near,

Draws close to catch the falling tear.

He bore our griefs, our pain He knew,

And walks the midnight valley too.

(Psalm 23:4)

II. In the Dance of Joy

When laughter rings and hearts arise,

And blessings bloom like springtime rain,

Let songs ascend to sapphire skies,

For grace has triumphed over pain.

The Lord song, our shield,

Has sown His joy in every field.

Rejoice! For Christ, our risen King,

Has tuned our hearts anew to sing.

(Psalm 30:11)

III. In the Fog of Uncertainty

When paths grow dim and stars are veiled,

And questions crowd the weary mind,

When every plan seems weak or failed,

And faith is all we’ve left to find—

The Spirit whispers, “Peace, be still,”

And bends our will to match His will.

He leads through storms with unseen hand,

And sets our feet on solid land.

(Proverbs 3:5)

V. In God’s Waiting Room

When answers tarry, slow to come,

And time drips down like winter rain,

When prayers return in silence, numb,

And patience wears beneath the strain—

Still wait, O soul, upon the Lord,

His promises are not ignored.

The Comforter is near, not far,

A guiding light, a morning star.

(Psalm 130:5)

V. In the Hope of the Cross

O year anew, with pages white,

We write with ink of faith, not fear.

For Christ has conquered death and night—

His mercy crowns the dawning year.

He is our Saviour, strong and kind,

Our Healer of both heart and mind.

Our Friend who walks each step we take,

Whose love no trial can ever shake.

(Hebrews 13:8)

VI. In The Spirit’s Power – a Benediction

So lift your eyes, O child of grace,

The road ahead is not unknown.

The Spirit walks at mercy’s pace,

And you shall never walk alone.

In joy or grief, in peace or strife,

He breathes in you the breath of life.

So let this year, through every sphere,

Be crowned with God—A God New Year.

(Romans 15:13)

 Mark Humber 1 January 2026

Sonnet to The Light in the Darkness

In shadowed lands where truth is bought and sold,

Where thrones are built on lies and fleeting gain,

The hearts of men grow callous, dark, and cold,

And virtue bleeds beneath ambition’s chain.

The sacred vows are broken without shame,

The streets run red with envy’s bitter cost,

The holy name is mocked, denied, profaned—

A world adrift, unanchored, tempest-tossed.

Yet in the storm, a stillness calls us near:

A thorn-crowned King with mercy in His eyes.

He bore our guilt, our violence, lust, and fear,

And rose with healing light that never dies.

Though kingdoms fall and every idol rusts,

The cross still stands—our refuge and our trust.

So turn, O soul, from ruin and regret;

The Shepherd seeks the lost with wounded hands.

No sin too deep, no heart He won’t reset,

No grave so dark His love can’t light the lands.

Let rebels kneel, let prodigals arise—

For Christ alone makes dead men truly wise.

Mark Humber 30 December 2025

PERHAPS TODAY

Perhaps today the toil ends,

The pain is gone, the sorrow too.
Perhaps today I'll tread no more
This weary land down here with you.

Perhaps today this Time shall cease,
And I will reach Eternity,
Perhaps today the unseen God
Is seen in Jesus' face by me.

Perhaps today all trouble ends,
And every eye who loves Him sees
Their Lord of Hope shine through the clouds,
And hears the trumpet's jubilee.

Perhaps today on eagles' wings
We rise to meet Him in the air.
Perhaps today He wipes each tear,
And we shall meet again up there.

Mark Humber 31/05/2025

Dedicated to the memory of the late Leon Smith and his wife Jean Smith. This image was on the wall of their home, where I lived for some time and we often discussed it. I found it online in low resolution and enhanced it.