Juda Ben Hur

Jewish Prince you and of noble birth
Steadfast man in trouble times;
Roman rule of The Known World
still you stood as shining beacon
Son, brother, leader and friend;
friend to a Roman boy, Messala
Reunion...“where the beams cross”
“still close in every way...”
Every way really but one 
Messala, Roman in a Roman world
And you Juda was just a Jew...
Happy at first to reunite...
But different views would,
turn old friends into foes;
yet more friends would come
different names, different purpose; 
Belthasar the magus;
thought you were Jesus.
Simonides, slave who became friend...
Drove your caravans from Antioch;
made you richer every year...
and Ilderim, the wealthy sheik 
who loved and adored his horses
Yet many tribulations awaited Juda
Condemned to the galleys;
You lost your name 
Became a number...41;
then when things fell apart,
...a new country, status, a new Father
Quintus Arrius,...he once proclaimed
“we keep you alive to serve this ship,
...row well and live”
you saved his life, 
he made you his son.
Yet as Young Arrius
Vengeance, burned inside of you
An epic battle with a boyhood friend
Mother and sister turned leapers...
Chance meetings with The Saviour;
Who took the sword from your hand?
He who gave you water once;
The Living Waters Himself...
that quenched your thirst;
but much more than that, 
a miracle of healing
Still,...Juda Ben Hur 
your greatest gift, biggest purpose
through it all...
Was this, to show us...  
Jesus Christ...Himself
* All quotes in the poem are from the 1959 version of "Ben Hur" as
directed by William Wyler and which starred Charlton Heston.