Crucifixion Witness

I was in the common hall the day soldiers brought Jesus in
The soldiers had scourged him, and the expression he wore was grim
I watched in horror as they stripped the Son of God of his clothes
Then dressed him in scarlet from his neck all the way to his toes

Watching them push a crown of thorns upon his head I cried out
And as the thorns bit into his flesh my cry changed to a shout
No one listened as they put a reed into Jesus’ right hand
And then bowing before him they mocked him just as they had planned

Spitting upon him, they took the reed from his hand and smote him
The reed’s lashes leaving trails of cuts that were just paper-thin
The soldiers and others continued to mock him as he bled
From the reed and the thorn crown they’d placed on the Son of God’s head

Tiring of their own game they dressed him again in his clothes
And the scarlet robe lay forgotten by those ignorant souls
As tears slid silently down my ashen cheeks I followed them
And prayed my Lord God would forgive them whom would his son condemn

Stepping out of the common hall I saw Simon with the cross
Couldn't’t they all see killing Jesus would be our own great loss
Why wasn’t anyone stepping up to correct the wrong done
Instead of helping to murder their God’s only holy son

Through all he had just endured Jesus said not even one word
They challenged him to call on God if he thought he would be heard
But Jesus had remained silent taking all of their abuse
As if to try to defend himself would have been of no use

Jesus was led along with Simon to a place of a skull
Given a drink of vinegar, by his face it was awful
They then crucified our Lord Jesus Christ on the third hour
He was flanked on both sides by thieves, each a known transgressor

I watched as they nailed him to the cross through each palm, now bloody
And heard him ask, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?'
Soon after, I witnessed the death of the only Son of God
I knew the consequences of this act might indeed be broad

C 2004 LindaRitnour/RainbowQueen
(All Rights Reserved)