If Only I'd Been There

If Only

.

If only I’d been there,
in that stable
on that night,
to fall upon my knee
and gaze in wonder
at the sight.
If only I’d been there!
.

If only I’d been there,
in the temple
as He spoke:
a child amongst His peers,
whose words
the Spirit woke.
If only I’d been there!
.

If only I’d been there,
amongst the crowd
who heard and fed.
The blessing of the Word
to feed the soul;
then fish and bread.
If only I’d been there!
.

If only I’d been there,
at the tomb
where Lazarus lay:
when Jesus wept and prayed
for His friend
upon that day.
If only I’d been there!
.

If only I’d been there,
when the blind
were made to see,
the deaf were made to hear,
the lame to walk,
and souls set free.
If only I’d been there!
.

If only I’d been there,
in Gethsemane
when He prayed,
‘Take not this cup from Me,
I know that You
must be obeyed.’
If only I’d been there!
.

If only I’d been there,
when the crowd
bayed for His end;
when they set Barabbas free,
and called a thief
their friend.
If only I’d been there!
.

If only I’d been there,
when He hung
upon that cross.
If they had understood
that salvation
has a cost.
If only I’d been there!
.

If only I’d been there,
to be with Him
along the way.
To walk with Him,
to talk with Him,
to hear Him every day.
If only I’d been there!
© Colin Gordon-Farleigh, January 2006