Our Savior and Lord

In a familiar garden, he cried out, desperately, for the passing of this course before him,

yet he humbly forfeited his broken will to the Father’s all encompassing salvation plan.

Asking his devoted followers to remain attentive to his agony was his simple request

but it was long forgotten, as sleep pressed in and as he took up the cup of living sacrifice.

Stepping forward into this night of death, he was met with a brutal kiss of betrayal,

sticks and weapons were abundant but rendered ironic when he volunteered to be seized. 

Ropes now bound the hands, whose touch had healed the multitudes of sickness and pain,

 as false accusations and questions were hurled in disgust at this compassionate one.

He was struck as he offered truth, cast off from one authority to another in mockery,

while his identity, ministry and very utterances were scoffed at, with heaps of ridicule.

Royal attire was draped upon his severely beaten body as judges were called to condemn, 

eventually they placed a crown of cutting thorns on his head, driving it into his brow.

Even as this assault wore on with savagery, no one spoke out requesting mercy,

as endless noisy riotous calls to crucify, rose unjustly from raving, shouting crowd.

Nails pierced his flesh, fixing his battered bodily frame upon a torture intended cross,

yet even here he offers forgiveness, as he takes his final breath, of a life given in love.

His life was over and most of those he called apostles had long disappeared into fear,

leaving someone else to find a place to lay this seemingly forgotten rabbi and prophet.

 Hope was gone and a gloom settled over all the earth and all of his followers,

And he was quietly put in a new tomb surrounded by guards to guarantee his remaining.

What no mighty armies could ever deliver and what no earthly powers could ever attain; 

this one, forever secured for all time in the shedding of his life giving, sin negating blood.

Soon the grave was empty to the amazement of the startled viewers attested to by angels,

and this Jesus was raised up, forever alive to offering a peace beyond understanding.

We cannot begin to express our thankfulness for His giving all, that we will ever need,

as we humbly realize our Father’s love for us in giving His Son to take away our sins.  

 Nor can we grasp the indescribable power of His Spirit that raised our Lord and Savior,

to be the Christ who now lives in our hearts and will someday usher us into life eternal.

Yet as surely as Jesus lived, He leads us in life. As surely as He died, He redeems us.

And as surely as He arose, He gives us life forever.  Christ is risen. Yes, risen in deed!