Come, climb with me Golgotha and see a grinning skull ebedded in a rock-face, all chit-chat to annul. Look down, look down and ponder the bolted city gate, with soldiers at the ready their captive to await. They straighten to attention; the gate swings open wide. The soldiers prod their captive, who cannot move aside. He drags, half-drags, half-carries a rough and ready cross. Dear Christ, we wince to see you; our freedom is your loss. You slowly climb Golgotha, and as you reach its crown a soldier shows you kindness and gently lays you down. His mates obey their orders. They stretch your hands and feet and nail your wrists and ankles their duty to complete. They hoist the cross and upright till at its highest point it thuds into its sockets, and wrenches every joint. Some in the crowd fall silent while others mock and jeer. A soldier follows orders and jabs you with a spear. The soldiers take your clothing, dividing it to share. Your travel-robe, full woven, they cannot bear to tear, so, failing to divide it, or set a selling price, they settle who will own it by simply throwing dice. Can anyone do justice to all that you have done? No song of praise suffices. Your love outshines the sun. No preacher, priest or prophet can stand where you have stood. You are, as now you suffer, the human face of God.
The soldiers prod their captive, who cannot move aside. He drags, half-drags, half-carries a rough and ready cross. Dear Christ, we wince to see you; our freedom is your loss. You slowly climb Golgotha, and as you reach its crown a soldier shows you kindness and gently lays you down. His mates obey their orders. They stretch your hands and feet and nail your wrists and ankles their duty to complete. They hoist the cross and upright till at its highest point it thuds into its sockets, and wrenches every joint. Some in the crowd fall silent while others mock and jeer. A soldier follows orders and jabs you with a spear. The soldiers take your clothing, dividing it to share. Your travel-robe, full woven, they cannot bear to tear, so, failing to divide it, or set a selling price, they settle who will own it by simply throwing dice. Can anyone do justice to all that you have done? No song of praise suffices. Your love outshines the sun. No preacher, priest or prophet can stand where you have stood. You are, as now you suffer, the human face of God.