THE SHADOW OF A CROSS WAS SET IN PLACE
WITHIN
THE MINDS AND HEARTS BENT ON DISGRACE
WHILE
PHARISEES AND SCRIBES COLLUDE AS ONE
TO
KILL THEIR KING WHO CLAIMED TO BE GOD'S SON.
THE
PASSION WEEK BEGAN IN SIMON'S HOME
WHERE
DEATH AND HELL CONVERGED ON HIM ALONE
WHILE
MARY POURED RARE PERFUME ON HIS HEAD
SOME
CALLED IT WASTEFUL; COULD BE SOLD INSTEAD.
IN
THE UPPER ROOM DISCIPLES SHARED A MEAL
WITH
BREAD AND WINE, COMMUNION'S VISUAL SEAL
BUT
WARNED THEY WOULD FORSAKE AND TURN AWAY
AS
JUDAS PLANNED TO CAREFULLY BETRAY.
THEN
BY THE KIDRON VALLEY SLOPE THEY TALKED
AS
UPWARD TOWARD AN OLIVE GROVE THEY WALKED
BUT
WHEN THE WEIGHT OF SIN TORE HIM APART
HE
PRAYED IN AGONY WITH BROKEN HEART.
THREE
TIMES HE URGED HIS FAITHFUL FRIENDS TO PRAY
BUT
SLUMBER WON, EXHAUSTED FROM THE DAY
THE
CUP THAT JESUS SOUGHT TO PASS FROM HIM
NOW
WILLINGLY HE DRANK TO PAY FOR SIN.
THE
SOUND OF MEN WITH CLUBS AND SWORDS APPEARED
AS
IF AGAINST SOME REBEL FORCE THEY FEARED
BUT
JESUS CALMLY SPOKE AND TOOK HIS STAND
WITH
JUDAS' KISS, A SIGN TO BIND HIS HAND.
THAT
NIGHT HE STOOD BEFORE SANHEDRIN'S COURT
ACCUSED
OF MANY CRIMES WITHOUT SUPPORT
BUT
WHEN HE CLAIMED TO BE GOD'S ONLY SON
THE
CRIES TO “CRUCIFY” INCREASED AS ONE.
THEN
ON TO PILATE'S ROMAN COURT THEY CAME
BOTH
PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES BROUGHT BLAME
WHEN
PILATE ASKED WHOM THEY WOULD HAVE RELEASED
THEY
CHOSE BARABBAS THOUGH HE WAS A THIEF.
THE
GUARDS LED JESUS TO THE COMMON HALL
WHERE
SOLDIERS SCOURGE THEIR PREY UNTIL THEY FALL
A
CROWN OF THORNS WAS PRESSED UPON HIS HEAD
BEATEN
AND FLOGGED TIL HE WAS ALMOST DEAD.
CONDEMNED
TO DIE, HE BORE THE CROSS ALONE
A
SPOTLESS LAMB FOR SINNERS TO ATONE
HIS
NAIL-PIERCED HANDS AND FEET AND BLEEDING SIDE
BECAME
THE SEAL UPON REDEMPTION'S TIDE.
THE
FINAL CRY WAS HEARD AMIDST THE NIGHT
THE
VEIL WAS RENT BEFORE SHEKINAH'S LIGHT
IN
JOSEPH'S CARVED-OUT TOMB THE SAVIOR LAY
THREE
DAYS TO HELL AND BACK THE SCRIPTURES SAY.
--B. Pent
