Jesus and Alexander
a poem of comparison
Jesus and Alexander the Great died at thirty three:
One lived and died for self; One died for you and for me.
The Greek died on the throne; The Jew died on the cross.
One’s life a triumph seemed; the other a total loss.
One led armies forth; the other walked alone.
One shed a whole world’s blood; the other shed his own.
One won the world in life, but lost it all in death;
The other lost his life to win a whole world’s faith.
Jesus and Alexander died at thirty three:
One died in Babylon; and one on Calvary
One gained all for himself; and One Himself He gave
One conquered every throne; the other every grave
One made himself god and God made himself less
The one lived but to blast; the other but to bless
When died the Greek, forever fell his throne of swords;
But Jesus died to live forever, King of kings and Lord of lords
Jesus and Alexander died at thirty three:
The Greek made all men slaves; The Jew made all men free.
One built a throne on blood; the other built on love.
The one was born of earth; the other from above.
One conquered all the earth, to lose all earth and heaven.
The other gave up all, that all to him be given.
The Greek forever died, the Jew forever lives--
He loses all who gets, and wins all who gives.
~Unknown~