Jesus

15+ Must-Read Poems about Jesus

(15 to start, 25+ to explore)

Jesus Christ remained the inspiration to several poets from as early as the middle age to modern times. Poems about Jesus pay tribute to the central figure of Christianity. These verses explore the teachings, love, and sacrifice associated with Jesus Christ.

They may delve into themes of faith, redemption, and forgiveness, drawing inspiration from biblical narratives and spiritual symbolism. Through heartfelt language, poets express devotion and gratitude to Jesus, reflecting on the profound impact of his life and teachings.

Poems about Jesus Visual Representation

Poem Explorer Poetry Archives

#1

Nationality: American

Themes: Desire, Disappointment, Failure, Religion, Spirituality

Emotions:

98

Faith, Frustration, Kindness

Topics:

94

Christianity, God, Humanity

Form: Petrarchan Sonnet

"> 94/100

Hope holds to Christ

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

‘Hope holds to Christ’ by Gerard Manley Hopkins is a poem about faith and hope. The speaker spends the lines personifying hope and relating “her” to Christ.

In this poem, Hopkins personifies “Hope” that holds the mind’s mirror to Christ. Through this personification, Hopkins compares hope to Christ. According to him, Christ is the embodiment of hope to mankind. When a hopeful person holds his mind’s mirror to the almighty, he can see his own reflection on it. T

Hope holds to Christ the mind’s own mirror out

To take His lovely likeness more and more.

It will not well, so she would bring about

An ever brighter burnish than before

#2

64

Nationality:

75

Themes:

62

54

59

76

74

Emotions:

58

56

63

55

69

Topics:

62

81

92

Personification

76

67

72

Form:

64

"> 92/100

Hymn on the Morning of Christ’s Nativity

by John Milton

‘Hymn on the Morning of Christ’s Nativity’ by John Milton masterfully unveils divine serenity amid earthly chaos, fusing theology with poetic brilliance.

This hymn of John Milton is similar to his poem ‘On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity’. In this piece, Milton describes the morning when Christ was born. He uses emotive language to describe the surroundings in order to portray how Christ was born amidst a hopeless scene.

This is the month, and this the happy morn,

Wherein the Son of Heav'n's eternal King,

Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born,

Our great redemption from above did bring;

#3

Themes: Relationships, Religion, Spirituality

Emotions: Confidence, Faith, Optimism, Passion

Topic:

90

Form: Free Verse

"> 90/100

I Am Christ’s

by Leslie Alexis

‘I Am Christ’s’ by Leslie Alexis is a passionate poem. In it, the speaker explores their religious devotion and celebrates their intentions to join God in heaven.

‘I Am Christ’s’ is an emotive piece that describes a speaker’s unconditional love for Christ. According to her, God is protecting him from Satan by raising his bar. He is not only protecting the speaker from the evil forces but all those who love him truly. In this spiritual war between good and evil, Christ will be victorious. The speaker is sure of Satan’s defeat.

In Heaven, at the right hand of God I’ll sit,

I haven’t been there, but my eyes can see it.

Adorned in righteous robes, I’ll stand by the king.

#4

Nationality: American

Themes: Religion, Spirituality

Emotions: Compassion, Faith, Gratitude, Hope, Kindness

Topics:

89

Christianity, God, Humanity, Inspiration

Form: Octave

"> 89/100

Christ of Everywhere

by Henry van Dyke

‘Christ of Everywhere’ by Henry Van Dyke is a poem about the presence of Christ in all living things. Throughout this piece, Van Dyke uses simple and relatable language that allows all readers to connect with his words.

In this poem, Dyke portrays Christ as a lover of mankind. According to him, Christ is the lover of creation. He is patient with the impatient humankind who are stuck in the cycle of virtue and sin. Dyke implores him to teach humankind the language of peace.

"Christ of the Andes," Christ of Everywhere,

Great lover of the hills, the open air,

And patient lover of impatient men

#5

56

Nationality:

54

Themes:

47

47

55

46

51

Emotions:

41

47

45

43

45

Topics:

46

56

27

88

52

Form:

53

"> 88/100

Christ’s Nativity

by Henry Vaughan

‘Christ’s Nativity’ by Henry Vaughan celebrates Christ’s birth, juxtaposing joy with human imperfection, highlighting redemption’s transformative power.

In this poem, Henry Vaughan celebrates Jesus’ birth as a divine renewal. Nature rejoices in harmony, while the speaker longs for purity to honor Christ. Reflecting on human sin, he pleads for cleansing and Christ’s transformative grace. The poem intertwines worship, humility, and hope for redemption through Jesus’ presence.

Awake, glad heart! get up and sing!

It is the birth-day of thy King.

Awake! awake!

The Sun doth shake

#6

48

Nationality:

59

Themes:

51

55

52

75

58

Emotions:

62

54

50

26

50

53

Topics:

52

62

49

87

73

Form:

64

"> 87/100

Christ Crucified

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s ‘Christ Crucified’ depicts a spiritual journey, exposing suffering and urging empathy, revealing Christ’s continued crucifixion.

‘Christ Crucified’ profoundly engages with the figure of Jesus by presenting Him as the embodiment of compassion and moral guidance. Jesus appears in the poem to underscore the timeless relevance of His teachings amidst a world filled with suffering and cruelty. The encounters with Jesus prompt a transformation in the speaker, emphasizing the moral imperative of following Christ's principles and values.

Now ere I slept, my prayer had been

that I might see my way

To do the will of Christ, our Lord

and Master, day by day;

#7

55

Nationality:

60

Themes:

54

58

52

50

62

Emotions:

51

63

56

52

50

Topics:

65

58

63

53

86

54

Form:

56

Genre:

53

"> 86/100

Conference Between Christ, The Saints, And The Soul

by Christina Rossetti

‘Conference Between Christ, The Saints, And The Soul’ by Christina Rossetti discusses faith, the afterlife, and how one gets into Heaven.

In this poem, Rossetti talks about a divine conversation between her and Christ. Christ welcomes her to enjoy the sweets of heaven by leaving his earthly burden behind. From her tone, it is clear that she also said wants to be with him and rest in heaven with the saints.

I am pale with sick desire,

For my heart is far away

From this world's fitful fire

And this world's waning day;

#8

86

Nationality:

84

Theme:

85

Emotions:

62

60

88

65

Topics:

86

70

95

86

60

Genre: Old English

"> 86/100

The Dream of the Rood

by Undefined Poet

‘Dream of the Rood’ is a religious poem that presents a dream in which the cross talks about its journey from a tree to the crucifixion.

This poem graphically portrays Jesus’ crucifixion through the perspective of the Cross. This poetic vision exalts Jesus as a divine warrior who willingly endures suffering to redeem humanity. The poem intertwines themes of sacrifice, resurrection, and hope, emphasizing Jesus’ transformative role in mankind’s salvation and eternal glory.

What I wish to say of the best of dreams,

what came to me in the middle of the night

after the speech-bearers lie biding their rest!

It seemed to me that I saw the greatest tree

#9

Nationality: American

Themes: Death, Religion

Emotion: Faith

Topics:

85

Christianity, Humanity, Loss, Suffering

Form: Free Verse

"> 85/100

Jesus! thy Crucifix

by Emily Dickinson

‘Jesus! thy Crucifix’ by Emily Dickinson is a short poem in the form of a prayer to Jesus. Th speaker wants to make sure he remembers that humanity suffers on earth.

In this short poem of only 6 lines long, Emily Dickinson reflects on the sacrifice of Jesus through the symbol of the crucifix. She contrasts earthly suffering with the promise of heavenly redemption. The “second face” evokes the vision of Christ in Paradise, offering a profound connection between human mortality and divine salvation.

Jesus! thy Crucifix

Enable thee to guess

The smaller size!

#10

57

Nationality:

68

Themes:

75

60

51

56

57

54

59

72

70

Emotions:

58

60

62

50

67

62

Topics:

66

57

50

80

62

84

66

Form:

72

Genre:

71

"> 84/100

In the Bleak Midwinter (A Christmas Carol)

by Christina Rossetti

‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ describes the birth of the Christ child on a “bleak midwinter” day and those who came to see him.

Jesus is the central figure in the poem, symbolizing divine love and humility. His birth in a stable shows His willingness to come into the world in the simplest way. The poem highlights His importance and the reverence people and angels have for Him. Jesus' birth brings a sense of hope, joy, and spiritual renewal.

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

#11

65

Nationality:

50

Themes:

58

55

50

40

Emotions:

50

45

40

40

Topics:

30

60

65

82

50

60

Form:

25

"> 82/100

Gautama Christ

by Pablo Neruda

‘Gautama Christ’ by Pablo Neruda is a poem showcasing the hope and violence that religion, Christianity specifically, inspires.

Neruda’s poem presents Jesus as both a sacred figure and a symbol exploited for power. His name, once pure, is worn out by contradictory uses—invoked by saints and murderers alike. The poem mourns this distortion yet acknowledges a lingering essence of divinity, faint but enduring amid human contradictions.

The names of God and especially those of His representative
Who is called Jesus or Christ according to holy books and
someone's mouth
These names have been used, worn out and left

#12

48

Nationality:

52

Themes:

66

78

90

Emotions:

76

68

54

Topics:

56

48

64

80

76

Form:

54

"> 80/100

The Manger Throne

by William Chatterton Dix

‘The Manger Throne’ is a lyrical religious poem that envisions the nativity scene as a moment of harmony between the heavens and earth.

In Dix's poem, Jesus Christ is presented as both an infant—newly born in their humble manger—and a divine authority—one destined to defeat evil and bring humanity salvation. This duality is accentuated throughout the poem and serves to herald the hope and redemption those who are faithful Christians believe he represents. Not only does he bring harmony to the heavens and earth but also the dichotomy of the flesh and spirit, as they're believed to be the incarnation of god in human form.

Like silver lamps in a distant shrine,

The stars are sparkling bright

The bells of the city of God ring out,

For the Son of Mary is born to-night.

#13

65

Nationality:

74

Themes:

70

70

57

56

66

68

Emotions:

68

61

68

64

64

70

Topics:

60

70

72

66

65

Form:

60

Genre:

65

"> 72/100

Pilate’s Wife

by Carol Ann Duffy

‘Pilate’s Wife’ shares her frustration in a loveless marriage, contrasting Pilate’s weakness with Jesus’s strength, highlighting women’s voices and equality.

Jesus is a key figure in the poem. The wife is deeply affected by his presence and his gaze. Her dreams about his crucifixion make her think deeply about his fate and what it means. She feels compassion for him and wants to save him but feels powerless. Jesus’s story is central to her thoughts and the events around her.

Firstly, his hands - a woman's. Softer than mine,

with pearly nails, like shells from Galilee.

Indolent hands. Camp hands that clapped for grapes.

Their pale, mothy touch made me flinch. Pontius.

#14

35

Nationality:

40

Themes:

40

65

Emotions:

70

55

Topics:

65

70

Form:

40

Genre:

55

"> 70/100

Easter Hymn

by A. E. Housman

‘Easter Hymn’ by A. E. Houseman unearths the contradictions between religious teachings and their implementation. The poet is juxtaposing biblical moments of violence with modern ones to highlight the incomplete nature of Christ’s promise to save humanity from itself.

Jesus is presented as either a human figure that preached morality or as truly immortal. Either way, the emphasis on his crucifixion points to the poem’s true focus on the brutal potential of humanity and that such shared anguish is what should inspire change.

If in that Syrian garden, ages slain,

You sleep, and know not you are dead in vain,

Nor even in dreams behold how dark and bright

Ascends in smoke and fire by day and night

#15

65

Nationality:

60

Themes:

50

40

75

Emotions:

40

60

35

25

Topics:

75

35

30

70

30

Form:

70

Genre:

40

"> 70/100

Holy Sonnet 18: Show Me Dear Christ…

by John Donne

In Holy Sonnet XVIII, Donne asks Christ to reveal His Church-as-Bride, probing her truth, form, and role through metaphysical conceits and spiritual doubt.

Jesus is central to this poem. The poet is addressing Jesus, and asking questions about his "spouse," referring to the Church. The nature of Jesus' relationship with the Church is looked at, while the poet considers the manner in which the Church can be most pleasing to Jesus.

Show me dear Christ, thy spouse so bright and clear.

What! is it she which on the other shore

Goes richly painted? or which, robb'd and tore,

Laments and mourns in Germany and here?

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