THE PRICE IS PAID; THE VICTORY’S WON

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, when we focus on Jesus’ suffering and death for us. But we want to be sure we don’t focus on the suffering and death without including the victory that resulted from it. I wrote this poem this week to celebrate all that Jesus did.

THE PRICE IS PAID; THE VICTORY’S WON

Mankind was bowed beneath the load of sin and shame.
But in the fulness of God’s time, the Savior came.
He walked as man and lived obedient to God’s law.
Then took upon Himself the sin and curse for all.

His sorrow was so deep it turned his sweat to blood.
In agony He prayed alone, misunderstood.
He cried “Dear Abba, can You find another way?”
But when no way was found, He rose up and obeyed.

The scourging ripped His body; thorns punctured His head.
Nailed to the cross, unclothed, He cried aloud and said,
“Father, forgive them; they do not know what they do.
I’ve done Your will, and now my spirit comes to You.”

The arms of death did grip Him tight within their hold.
The devil felt supreme and in his hate grew bold.
But suddenly God’s voice was heard: “The price is paid!”
And all the underworld began to reel and shake.

The Spirit of Life, who had created all that’s seen,
From Heaven came down and filled Christ’s body once again.
He rose to life victorious over sin and curse,
And in that life now reigns over the universe.


My Journal Page for Ash Wednesday

My journal page for Ash Wednesday – Week 1 of Lent.

ASH WEDNESDAY INK SKETCH

I’m committed to doing one page with a Lenten theme for each of the 6 weeks. I’m not focusing on “making art,” but on what this season means to me. I have a 6 x 6 journal that I purchased last year to record scripture-related art that meant something special to me. I began the first page of that journal with the first week of Lent last year. Now, with this year, I will actually finish the last 7 pages of the journal with an entry for each week of Lent and one for the week of Easter. I think it’s rather amazing how that worked out.

(For any of you not familiar with the tradition of placing ashes on the forehead to publicly recognize the need for repentance and the beginning of this period of Jesus’ suffering for us, I’ll tell you that the spot on her forehead represents those ashes.)



 

Lenten Poems — week 3

CRUCIFIX - FOR YOU - GOSPEL GIFS

SUFFICIENT

Seized and stripped and slapped and spit upon,
Scornful salutations; sorrow; shame;
Satan stalks the Son of God and Son of Man
Scarlet stripes, scalding tears, searing pain;

Search the scriptures, surely they the story tell:
Insatiable evil strikes; the Lamb is slain.

But surely, it’s my sins He bore, my sorrow and shame,
My sickness, my distress, my grief, my pain.

Submitted Sacrifice: He sealed the promise;
Sufficient, He bought me peace with God again.

 

 

 


 

Lenten Poems — week 2

CROSS WITH CROWN OF THORNS

SACRIFICE

A crown,
A diadem,
A shackle placed upon the brow.

Bestowed
Contemptuously,
And scarlet robe on shoulders bowed.

The grief,
The agony,
The tortuous, mutilating pain.

All born
By Innocence
To give me peace and health again.

A cross,
On Calvary:
To execute the Father’s plan.

A tomb,
Now empty stands:
He’s paid the price for every man.

 

 

 


 

Lenten Poems – week 1

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. A few years ago I wrote 7 poems during Holy Week — or Passion Week — leading up to Easter Sunday. This year in commemoration of our Lord’s suffer, I’m going to repost those poems on each Wednesday in Lent — and then post the last of the 7 on Easter Sunday. I hope they bless you and inspire you to gratefully meditate on how our Lord Jesus suffered for our sins and in our place to work our total redemption and salvation.

 


CROWN OF THORNS ULTRA MODERNBARABBAS

My heart pounded
As they dragged me out.
They stood me close beside Him,
And I looked about.

The crowd was frenzied:
With rage and raw disgust.
I wasn’t sure the real cause–
Why they fumed and cussed.

I glanced beside me
To catch a glimpse of Him,
But what my eyes saw in His
Convicted me within.

When guards shouted,
“Who is it going to be?”
Then I understood they’d choose
To set one free.

“Free Barabbas!
Set Barabbas free!”
I could not believe my ears:
They chose, not Him, but me.

“What of Jesus?”
Then asked the guards.
“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!
He is not our God!”

My shackles fell off:
By law a free man.
Pilate called for water then
And there he washed his hands.

The day grew dark
As He hung there,
Upon a cross with thieves each side,
Then He said a prayer.

He prayed, “Forgive them.”
Did that include me?
When He said, “It is finished!”
I knew He’d died for me
— Barabbas.

 

 

 


 

Lent: Meditating On The Sacrifice

CROWN OF THORNS ULTRA MODERNTHE SACRIFICE

A crown,
A diadem,
A shackle placed upon the brow.

Bestowed
Contemptuously,
And scarlet robe on shoulders bowed.

The grief,
The agony,
The tortuous, mutilating pain.

All born
By Innocence
To give me peace and health again.

A cross,
On Calvary:
To execute the Father’s plan.

A tomb,
Now empty stands:
He’s paid the price for every man.

~