CRUCIFIXION  DAY

Written by Donna (Ensign) Woods

 

I lived a very long time ago…

But my story….I want you to know.

I was once a very evil man

A murderous thief with self-laid plan

My heart imprisoned in man-made hell

Please listen to the story I tell.

The reports of Jesus, I had heard

But I scoffed at every word.

My soul festered with disbelief.

For my torment, I found no relief.

I knew of His healing powers

And words of His teaching hours.

I heard He even raised the dead

…..That’s what His followers said.

By a brief encounter with God’s Son

When His earthly life was nearly done.

My own heart was softened and changed

My entire life re-arranged.

We made eye contact that day

For only a moment before I ran away.

As I ran---the crowd seemed to part

To avoid the evil in my heart.

When I was a safe distance away

…..Something made me stop and stay.

What was that look on His face ???

I’ve never seen that---any place !!

Was it a depth of love I’d never known ???

Or a mercy I’d never been shown ???

I was captivated by Jesus. God-Man.

As I followed the crucifixion caravan.

From a distance, I saw the mistreating

His flesh ripped and torn at the beating,

The glisten of soldier’s spit

As they encircled Him, mocked and hit.

I saw the blood run down His face,

As the crown of thorns was put in place.

Once again, His eyes found mine

And moments were frozen in time…..

I thought I might get sick

As the lump in my throat grew thick.

But I followed as they led Him away

On that Crucifixion Day.

How could they crucify Him ??

This man that had no sin.

Jesus had committed no crime !

The sentence of death should have been mine !

I watched Him stagger, Bloody and pale.

I heard the women mourn and wail.

The sound of hammer and spike

…..I couldn’t bear the sight !!

I watched the painful breaths He’d take.

I heard the moans He’d make.

As He hung upon death’s tree

….. He scanned the crowd…and looked at me…..

Once again we were eye to eye

As darkness filled the sky

I stood in darkness from 6 until 9

And I saw Him breathe for the very last time.

I saw His body, after He died

…..As His Mother held Him …. And cried.

I watched His body wrapped in white.

I’ll never forget that sight !

I knelt at His empty cross that day

In a pool of His blood, I fell to pray.

Jesus died for my sin and shame…..

…..Barabbas is my name.

Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

“What shall I do, then, with the one you call king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify Him!” they shouted “Why? What crime has He committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!” Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and had Him handed over to be crucified.

Mark 15:6-15

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