Good Friday Poem

I shared this poem yesterday at our Good Friday reflection, we live in the knowledge of the resurrection of Christ, but its good also to remember the price paid for our freedom in him.

Have a great East, celebrating the greatest of all events - "He is risen".

The jeering crowd like jackals stood,
To see what must be done.
Though once they thought this man was good,
They didn't see God's Son.

They called Him Rabbi, Teacher, Lord,
Yet now He was Rome's slave.
So all His claims were now ignored,
For who was He to save?

The nails were driven deep inside...
More drops of blood soon fell...
Once lifted, hoisted, crucified,
His life was just like Hell.

Torment and torture lay ahead.

Excruciating pain.
His scourged back stung and bled and bled
As briars bruised His brain.

His mother wept each passing hour.
'Dear God, have pity, please! '
And yet there came no sign of power,
No rescue, no release.

The soldiers gambled for His clothes.

One wash and they'd be clean.
His life and death the Father chose,
Thus stays the Nazarene.

'It is finished! ' the Saviour screamed
With one great final sigh...
Though not defeated as it seemed,
For Jesus had to die.

To think, the Holy Spirit shares
Forgiveness in His Name!
No other man on Earth compares.
Not one could do the same.

For all have sinned and gone astray
Like sheep in darkest night.

But blessed are they that find the Way
And walk within His light...

He died for you. He died for me.
God's Son fulfilled God's plan.
From Calvary came clemency!
Behold the Son of Man!
Behold the blood! Behold the Lord!

For this man was the Christ!
The Lamb of God! His heart outpoured!
The Saviour sacrificed!
Oh, who can count the callous sins
That Jesus suffered for?
Behold the precious Prince of Peace,
The King of Love and more!

Denis Martindale