The Sacrifice

IT WAS A HOT AND SUNNY SPRING DAY
AS I WALKED THRU THE MARKETPLACE
THE DUST ROILED THICKLY IN THE AIR
AS SWEAT STREAKED DOWN MY FACE

THE SIGHTS AND SMELLS AROUND ME
CAUSE ME TO STOP, EXAMINE THE GOODS
BUT I AM URGENTLY NEEDED AT HOME
I’D STAY MUCH LONGER IF ONLY I COULD

PEOPLE ARE GOSSIPING IN SMALL GROUPS
SOMETHING ABOUT A TRIAL TODAY
I'D LIKE TO STOP AND FIND OUT MORE
BUT I REALLY NEED TO BE ON MY WAY

THE STREETS ARE FULL OF SOLDIERS
HEAVILY ARMED, IN TWOS OR THREES
THE AIR WAS FULL WITH SUCH TENSION
AS IF WAITING FOR A ROMAN DECREE

IN THE DISTANCE I HEAR AN UPROAR
IN THE DIRECTION THAT I MUST GO
A MULTITUDE IS QUICKLY GATHERING
MAKING PROGRESS INCREDIBLY SLOW

NOW THE CROWD IN FRONT IS PARTING
I SEE SOLDIERS IN CLOAKS OF RED
IN THE MIDST A SIGHT SO APPALLING
THAT IT FILLS MY MIND WITH DREAD

A MAN, PRACTICALLY BEATEN TO DEATH
ON HIS SHOULDER BEARING A CROSS
HIS VISAGE MARRED AND DISTORTED
AND WITH WORDS I’M AT A TOTAL LOSS

HE FALLS, IS REPEATEDLY BEATEN
ACROSS HIS BACK, STRIPES, BLOODY, DEEP
GIRD AROUND HIS LOINS WITH LINEN
AND NO SANDALS UPON HIS FEET
HIS PROGRESS IS BECOMING SLOWER
AND FINALLY HE REACHES MY SIDE
HE TURNS AND GENTLY LOOKS MY WAY
FRIGHTENED, I TURN TO RUN AND HIDE

A ROMAN SOLDIER BLOCKS MY PATH
AS OTHERS RETURN ME TO THE SITE
“YOU! CARRY HIS CROSS!” THEY SAID
THEN I HOIST IT WITH ALL MY MIGHT

WE PROCEED TO THE EDGE OF TOWN
TO A HILL, GOLGOTHA BY NAME
COMPREHENDING WHAT IS HAPPENING
IT FILLED MY HEART WITH SHAME

A CROWN OF THORNS UPON HIS BROW
SIGNS PROCLAIMING “KING OF THE JEWS”
THEY ROUGHLY LAID HIM ON THE CROSS
AND PIERCED HIM THRU AND THRU

I STOOD THERE AND WATCHED HIM DIE
UNDERSTANDING WHAT I’D DONE
THE SKY GREW DARK, THE VEIL WAS RENT
AND I KNEW THIS WAS GOD’S SON

I WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET THAT DAY
WHEN I WATCHED AN EARTHLY SACRIFICE
HOW A CARPENTER WILLINGLY DIED
BORE MY SINS AND BECAME MY CHRIST

Thursday, June 23, 2022