“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