The Suffering Servant

Jesus, in the Garden, was standing all alone;

Fearful, apprehensive, deserted, and woebegone.

No friend was there to comfort — consolation was remote.

Dread of what was coming, like a hot hand, gripping His throat.

A songbird broke the silence; then stillness, not a sound.

The three who could not watch one hour lay sleeping on the ground.

His sweat and blood were mingled and down His cheeks came tears.

He cried, “Please, not this chalice — Oh, my Father, calm my fears.”

“Yet not my will,” He offered, “not mine; but, yours be done.”

You are the King of Heaven. I but, your lowly Son.

“With the lash of whip, a crown of thorns and mocking purple cloak;

He stood meekly, yet and nobly, and not a word He spoke.

From twelve to three He hung there, nailed upon a tree;

Eyes rolled back into His head in bone-deep agony.

His blood dripping — lay red upon the ground,

Jeers and hoots and catcalls echoed all around.

His sweet grief-stricken mother stood mantled in a shawl,

While a sponge was lifted full of vinegar and of gall.

The mob, unruly, jostled, and milled all about the place;

Taunted, mocked and heckled — one reached up, slapped His face.

But wait... from out in the distance ... what was this crowd in white?

It was marching swiftly towards Him like a great star-burst of light.

Many eyes were fixed upon Him, many hands reached out.

“Jesus, you are not alone. You've got us,” they shout.

Jesus, we adore you! This we’d have you know,

That we will walk beside you, no matter where you go.

Then He and all those people who were dressed in shining white,

Marched resolutely forward, straight up to Calvary's height.

From the darkness of that noonday, to the quaking of the earth;

From life to death to glory, in His resurrected birth;

One cross, one man our Savior, on fire with boundless love,

Bent by God Almighty from His heavenly throne above.

It was sweat and blood so long ago, there at Gethsemane;

From Bethlehem, and Nazareth, to the hill of Calvary.

This Man was sent from Heaven to endure both pain and strife,

In order that all mankind might share His everlasting life.