The Passion

A poem from 1986

I – The Transfiguration

We went upon a hill to pray

James and John, Jesus and me

But tired, I slept away

And knew not of the other three

I was awoken

And my eyes saw a hazy sight

A dream? Or was I now seeing my Lord

Dress’d in raiments of burning light?

I bowed at His feet that shone like bronze

His outstretched arms to touch a cross

Moses and Elijah at either side

Their glory realised

Oh, Lord, your face shines like gold

Pointing to Jerusalem

A city where we shall head

I spoke, but knew not what I said

Moses! Elijah! Where have you gone?

Clouds descended from Heaven’s gate

The Voice of God spake

As we cowered in fright

“This is my Son with whom I am well pleased”

The light faded

The voice stopped

And Christ, our Lord

Stood all alone

And we sat in quiet awe

Upon the floor

II – The Mount of Olives

Jesus prayed

With sweat like blood

Up on the Mount of Olives

He didn’t want to die the death of thieves

But knew that His Father’s will must be done

Christ strode boldly into the face of suffering

Its wide grin waiting

To get Him between its teeth

His Father sent an angel from Heaven

To strengthen Jesus

In His time of woe

And so

He prayed even more earnestly

And blood flowed

In streams from His forehead

III – The Betrayal

Flames in the night

A kiss of betrayal

Lingered in front of swords

Prepared for battle

The Son of Man

To be taken by force

Like a criminal

The soldiers advanced in solid formation

A high priest’s slave among them

And a disciple of Christ

Removed his ear

In defiant gesture

But Christ wanted no bloodshed

And repaired

And rebuked

And replaced th’appendage in its proper place

Then He left

In the moment of His arrest

To the beginning of the end of the beginning

Leaving a confused slave

To wonder

At his part

In the coming death

Of

Jesus of Nazareth

IV – The Mockery

“Prophesy!” they said to Him

“Who was it struck you ‘pon the chin?”

With horns they blew into His ear

To drown the blasphemy from their lips

And a blindfold obstructed Him

From seeing wicked grins

And fingered gestures

Screwed up faces

That soaked His robe in spittle

V – Before The High Priest

They tortured lies before the Christ

In their secret chamber-den

To have Him killed upon a hill

Upon the crucifix

Midst the pillars of deceit

The words of cheats

Ground down the mighty steps

Confronted sweet Jesus

“ART THOU THE CHRIST?”

Jesus replied that their eyes beheld prejudice

And if He said “yes”

They would refuse this truth

So He told them from this moment on

They would see the Son of Man

Seated there by God’s right hand

The little dog snarled to see the court

At last the charge of blasphemy brought

And they took our Lord

Calm and silent

To Pontius Pilate

VI – Before Pilate

“Are you the king of the Jews?”

Said Pilate to the Lord

Seated upon a Roman throne

A gargoyle beneath his feet

Masquerading as a dog

Procurator of injustice

Scales upon his tongue

Said he saw no reason

Why this man was wrong

Crossed his legs

Stretched out his palm

“I see no crime upon this man”

So Jesu

Hands tied ‘hind His back

Made no word of attack

Upon His persecutors

Who proved to be unlawful suitors

Pilate knew not if the charge was fiction

So handed the case to Herod’s jurisdiction

And soon came to a solid bargain

Just to chastise our Lord Jesus

But the Jews with one voice cry

“CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY!”

VII – The Crucifixion

They laid Christ down upon the planks

That shaped the final hours of men

Into a cross of agony

And disgrace

They beat nails into His feet and hands

Tore His flesh

And blood flowed gently to the wood

People crowded round to see

This Jesus die on Calvary

He claimed He was the Son of God

So why should He have to die the death of criminals

But what they failed to see

This was the Father’s will

That His precious Son should die

Upon this hill

The Skull

It grinned to see

The Son of Man its crucify

But hours later that grin would fade

For truth’s victory to serenade!

VIII – The Death

The time was coming when the Lord Jesus should depart

To close His work and ministry

Upon this phase of humanity

To fly into the face of death

And laugh as the face crumbled with its frown

A knock

“Who’s there?”

“Sin”

Sin knocks upon my cross

“What do you want, sin?”

“How does it feel, Jesus Christ

To end your days upon the plank

Criminals flank your either side

Save yourself, Son of God!”

“Sin, your mouth cried arrogance

Come, join me now upon this cross

And see from my view

Wrap yourself around my bones”

Sin, being full of pride,

Did Jesus’ bid

Before He died

And sin died too

Once and for all

As Jesus broke the barrier’s wall

His body hung limp

The battle won

But Jesus was alive

And conquering

The sky was darkened

The temple veil

Was torn in two from top to floor

And one thing of which we are now sure

“This man was the Son of God”

IX – Inbetween days

A cold, white body

In a cold, white tomb

Joseph of Arimathea wraps our Lord

Inside a white linen shroud

Our Lord lays in the virgin tomb

Where He must stay three days in death

His female followers

Anoint Him with sorrow

And prayer

Before the heavy rock

Seals the tomb

The resting place

Where the body lay undisturbed

For such a passing glance of time

While the Spirit of Jesus

Deals with Death

X – The Resurrection

Glory to the Father!

Glory to the Son!

Glory to the Spirit!

Jesus shining

Breaks the bread

Disciples watch in wonder

At the resurrected body of our Lord

Disbelief in joy afflicts them

Christ has rose up from the grave

To announce to all the world that He

Is all that He claimed to be

He rose up to the Father’s side

And blessed us all

With His sweet voice

Gave us the Spirit

To guide us till

The last day comes

When He will return for all who say

“Jesus is Lord”

From their heart