THE FINAL HOUR
He walked through the raging crowd,
a crown of thorns He wore.
People mocked and spit on Him,
His royalty they did ignore.
He hung on a slab of wood,
listening to their words of shame.
They laughed as He grew weary,
and cursed His holy, precious name.
He could have called His angels,
and showed them His power.
But He knew that He must die
at that dark and gloomy hour.
Now think of those you know,
who may have caused you pain.
Are you still bitter and angry,
Do those feelings still remain?
Put away bitterness and anger,
forgive those people in your heart.
Christ forgives us over and over,
and gives us a brand new start.
When you feel hurt by someone
remember the day Christ had died.
If He held grudges like we do,
our eternal life would be denied.
Forgive them without an end,
no matter what they may do.
Love them with the same love,
that Christ has shown unto you.
Susan M. Swann
The Cross
Up the hill, my Savior staggered,
Carrying the cross, upon which He'd die,
With a purpose and a promise,
Fulfilling God's plan, for you and I.
Up the hill, with trickling blood,
Mingled with sweat, from my Savior's brow,
The crowds, they came to mock Him,
"Look at the King ~ Look at Him now!"
On the cross, nailed so cruelly,
Spikes driven through, His hands, His feet,
He tries to breathe, then lifts His head up
And His eyes, with their eyes meet.
And at that instant, knowledge dawning,
Some begin, to wail and cry,
For they know, this man is different,
This Man, who is about to die.
For what man is there, so cruelly tortured
Unfairly blamed for other's sins, it's true,
Could say these words,
"Father forgive them,
For they know not what they do."
And then, the cruel act finished,
He bowed his Head and gave His Spirit up,
And we remember, Christ's victory,
When we break the bread
and drink from the cup.
That He died but rose victorious,
So that we might join Him there,
To live, in Heaven so glorious,
We who believe and we who care
Enough, to follow Jesus,
Call Him Savior, Redeemer, Lord,
our soon Coming King!
And to have, life eternal
That only the Son of God
to mankind brings.
Alison M. Birdsong
Copyright, 1995
"FATHER FORGIVE THEM"
The air hangs heavy,
My heart stands still.
They gather all around Me,
And Hasten for the kill.
They tear My garments from Me
Undraped and naked here I stand.
While they prepare to crucify
The bleeding Son of Man.
It's hard for Me to understand
Or realize just why,
My death is made a mockery
Which makes My Mother cry.
When just last week I spoke of peace
And everlasting love.
Apparently to deafened ears
And darkened skies above.
It was just last night I prayed,
"Father, if the will be Thine,
Take away this chalice...
This bleeding cup of Mine.
But yet, not as I will
But as Thy will be done."
And when pain shot through My heart,
I knew My hour had come.
A noisy crowd shatters the night,
My heart begins to race.
And then a traitor's lips,
Plant a kiss upon My face.
They scourged me at a pillar,
And whipped me till I bled,
But this was just a taste
Of the agony ahead.
A wreath of thorns upon My head,
I arched with every breath,
I went before the multitude,
They sentenced Me to death.
A cross I had to carry,
The splinters tore My skin,
The trecherous road to Calvary,
Was just now to begin.
The midday sun took its toll,
My knees buckled and gave way.
My heart was beating very fast,
As on the ground I lay.
My head began to spin around
And I felt the blistering heat,
I could not go on, and once again
Fell...at My Mother's feet.
I looked up at her tear stained face,
And even though she tried,
To hold back her emotions,
She looked at Me and cried.
I stumbled again and fell once more,
As time seemed to stand still.
Bruised and bleeding I arrived,
At the sacrificial hill.
And now I stand here naked,
Tormented by seething pain.
While nails are driven through My flesh,
And piercing every vein.
The agony is unbearable,
As spikes drive through the bone.
And they nail me to the cross,
To suffer all alone.
I now look down from My cross,
And see the brutal few.
"Father, please forgive them,
They know not what they do."
To My right and to My left,
The two thieves I behold.
One this day finds Paradise,
But the other's heart is cold.
Below me I can dimly see
My Mother so divine,
Trying hard to hold back tears,
As I try to hold back Mine.
"Woman, behold Your Son"
It hurts you, that I know.
I can see the torment in Your eyes,
As tears begin to flow.
Upon My robe they cast their lots,
To see who gets it first.
My whispered word goes unheard,
As I cry to them "I thirst."
My arms are getting weary,
And I am numb with pain.
The aching and the throbbing
Seems impossible to retain.
Now I hang here all alone,
For all the world to see.
My heart cries out, "My God, My God,
Why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
I see the sky above grow dark,
And not a sound I hear,
And I know deep inside My heart
That the end is very near.
"To Thy Hands I comment My spirit,
Father, take Thy Son."
I see the light of life go out,
"Father...it is done!"
The Tomb was Empty
Once I wandered through this life,
My heart all filled with grief and strife.
I could not seem to find my way,
Out of the pain of every day.
My life it seemed so hopeless and bare
It seemed as if no one did care
Then I looked and saw way over there
The tomb was empty.
The grave clothes laid aside.
The tomb was empty,
Jesus is alive.
I pondered on that moment,
When history was torn in two.
I pondered on Jesus
And what he had come to do.
I heard him as he called my name.
I heard him in spite of all that pain.
I looked and saw his hands held out.
I saw him as I looked about.
And in my pain, I called his name.
Into my heart, he truly came.
Now, my life is not the same.
The tomb is empty.
The grave cloths laid aside.
The tomb is empty.
Jesus is alive!
To you he calls so loud and clear.
Come and be my child.
He says that you should never fear.
He is loving, caring and mild
And....
The tomb is empty.
The graves cloths laid aside.
The tomb is empty.
Jesus is alive!
By Amy Seelbach
April 15, 2001 Bride Of The Lamb
