The flagellum in the soldier’s hand,
straps of leather tipped with lead,
shredded the skin of our Savior’s back,
thorns had yet to pierce His head.
thorns had yet to pierce His head.
Weak from the beating and loss of blood,
our Lord slumped to the ground,
our Lord slumped to the ground,
as they threw a robe on His open wounds,
Jesus uttered not a sound.
Jesus uttered not a sound.
The soldiers mocked this “King of the Jews”
placing a stick in His hand
placing a stick in His hand
“This for a scepter,” the Roman said,
as Jesus struggled to stand.
as Jesus struggled to stand.
A crown of thorns upon His head
completed the travesty
completed the travesty
as they pressed it deep into His scalp,
because of you and me.
because of you and me.
The blood ran in rivulets down His face
as they taunted and beat our Lord
yet still, Jesus uttered not a word,
while the soldiers were growing bored.
while the soldiers were growing bored.
Tiring of their sadistic sport
they ripped the robe from His back,
they ripped the robe from His back,
tearing open His wounds again
and with searing pain, He was wracked.
and with searing pain, He was wracked.
Showing no mercy they tied the beam,
on His shoulders, bare and torn
on His shoulders, bare and torn
And led the procession to the hill
where true mercy would be born.
where true mercy would be born.
His human muscles could bear no more,
as He crumpled to the ground,
as He crumpled to the ground,
no longer could He carry the wood
to which He had been bound.
to which He had been bound.
Pushed beyond His endurance,
bleeding and in shock,
He’d soon fulfill His purpose
to free God’s chosen flock.
to free God’s chosen flock.
Though He was barely able to walk
the soldiers gave Him no rest,
the soldiers gave Him no rest,
on the road to His crucifixion,
where for us He’d give His best.
where for us He’d give His best.
Arriving at Golgotha,
His death was drawing nigh
as they threw our Lord upon the beam
and held the hammer high.
and held the hammer high.
The soldiers were following orders
as they nailed Him to the wood
as they nailed Him to the wood
the King of all creation
was dying for our good.
was dying for our good.
They drove a nail through each of His wrists
and one through both of His feet,
this pain He suffered for our sake,
so that one day Him we’d meet.
so that one day Him we’d meet.
Hours and hours of limitless pain,
He struggled for each breath
as those who had condemned God’s son
stood waiting for His death.
He struggled for each breath
as those who had condemned God’s son
stood waiting for His death.
A chill crept through His tissues
and He knew the end was near,
and He knew the end was near,
His mission was completed,
atonement now was here.
atonement now was here.
Jesus whispered, “It is finished,”
and then this His final cry,
and then this His final cry,
“Father! Into thy hands, I commend my spirit,”
and for our sake, He died.
and for our sake, He died.
They took him from the cross of love
and laid him in the grave
covered the entrance with a stone
to seal him in the cave.
to seal him in the cave.
But three days later an empty tomb
was all that Mary found
was all that Mary found
Jesus resurrected, He is ALIVE
He was NEVER truly bound.
He was NEVER truly bound.
He has won the victory
o’er death and sin and shame
o’er death and sin and shame
for every person on this earth
who calls upon his name.
who calls upon his name.
3 comments:
It's sometimes hard to keep in the forefront of our minds that gruesome picture of man kinds ugly hate that led to the death of Jesus, the Son of God, but we must remember that now empty cross. Maybe it also helps us to warmly remember that unconditional love that God has for the world, all wrapped up in John 3:16. It hard to imagine that love of forgiveness He showed us on that cross when He said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
Marlene, thanks for sharing your Easter poem of God’s victory, and our salvation.
Marlene, that was a beautiful depiction of our Christ's death. I have the Passion of Christ by Mel Gibson. I have only watched it once, but what you described, is what was displayed in his Movie. As Ed says, a lot of people do not realize the brutal desecration of our Savior that died for our sins.
Jack Kepple
I never understood the depth of Jesus' love for me until I read up on the process of the crucifixion. I was and still am so deeply moved by his sacrifice for me, to realize the horror of his suffering in my place, for my redemption, is truly humbling. If I can touch people who do not know Jesus through any of my poetry then I will feel like the talent God has given me will be used for a purpose.
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