Bring It On

I had missed the troubled crowd, Having just come into town.

Now I pressed beneath the load, Joined to him who wore a crown.

All around humanity, Yet my thoughts were fixed on him.

Why the back ripped to the bone?

Why the cruel and thorny brim?

How he struggled to ascend!

How he laboured for his breath!

Yet I sensed his body strove T’ward the hill marked for his death.

It became a strange desire To relieve his tortured frame; To receive the brunt of burden, But to go on just the same.

I was reckoning in me A compassion yet unknown, While he nobly took the taunts: “Where’s your kingdom? Where’s your throne?”

Momentarily we stopped To console dear grieving friends.

In his voice was total calm, Real concern for their lives’ ends.

Then, too soon, my privilege passed.

We had come to Calvary.

“Thank you friend,” he gazed at me, Then they nailed him to the tree!

Oh, the truth welled up in me!

Could the blinded mob not see?

Here their sin’s death penalty.

Here the Crux of Destiny.

In the man from Galilee.

In my friend who hung for me.

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