Was He innocent or guilty? Innocent.
Yet, He protested not a word.
"Crucify Him!" They heard Pilate say.
Still Jesus surrendered to His enemies.
Was it because He was inferior? No.
Rather strong enough to endure.
"To the torture rack," He heard the soldiers say.
Yet, He "gave His back to the smiters."
Metal, glass, and rock, on a whip of pain.
The flesh on His back being shredded like paper.
They removed His raiment- humiliating Him.
Still He stood there enduring the shame.
Did He ask for a crown? No.
But they still crowned Him with thorns.
How did they reward their Creator?
By launching spit into His face.
Bruised and bleeding; exhausted and torn,
They commanded Him to carry a cross.
A cross made of a tree, which He created,
weighing nearly the same as He.
What is the name of the place we are going?
The Place of a Skull- Golgotha.
Most kings die in a place of comfort,
surrounded by good, caring people.
Yet, He died on a torture rack, with thieves,
subject to the taunts of His enemies.
As He hung on the cross (suffering, dying),
The blood of His sacrifice poured down.
Tears fill my eyes. Pain fills my heart,
When I hear my Savior cry aloud,
"My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?"
You see, I know that I deserved His suffering.
I deserved the punishment that sin required.
I deserved the humiliation in open shame.
If I had suffered, the problem would still be unsolved.
I would still be separated from God,
With sin yet remaining on my account,
I would suffer eternity in hell without Him.
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him.
How could He be pleased with this?
Does the Father not love the Son?
He was pleased in the results:
He brought many sons to glory.
Rejoice, my soul, for salvation is yours!
Rejoice, indeed- with the price in mind.
The wounds, the bruises, the stripes:
This was the ransom for your depravity.
Have you any pride, O soul,
Knowing this is what your sinfulness required?
Try to exalt yourself, while surveying the cross.
If you can...
