By Spencer French

Prayers in gethsemane
Drowsy eleven
Pleading for strength against the enemy
Are these men really my succession?

Keep watch for one more hour?
Betrayed with a kiss by a friend
Disciples overpowered
Meeting with the Sanhedrin to attend.

Guilty of sin!
Paid for accusations
Blasphemy it was him!
Ulterior motivations

Spit his face
Thrown to the ground
Called a disgrace
Religious leaders surround

Disowned disciple
30 pieces
Judas suicidal
Beating increases

Jesus before Pilate
Crucify, crucify!
Crowds be quiet,
The laws to abide!

Innocence pleas
Barabbas instead
Called by all attendees
Jesus left for dead

Naked, with kingly dress
Thorny crown
Jesus filled with distress
Shoved to the ground

Beaten, whipped
Blood torrents
Flesh ripped
Without warrants

Forty minus one
Jesus cries out
Murdering God’s son
People begin to shout

Get the cross!
Cyrene hesitations
Dragging across
Splinters in lacerations

Degraded
Stumbling
Paraded
Mumbling

Exposed bone
Indigo bruise
Everything shown
Crimson sinews

Mocked
King of the Jews
People flocked
limping through avenues

Stopped
Jesus fell
Cross dropped
Soldiers yell

Propped upright
Nails through hands
Without a fight
On his own flesh he stands

Rebels left and right
Idle commands
Horrendous sight
He doesn’t understand

Wine vinega
Lugubrious women
As your mother take her
No glimpse of heaven

Dark cloud
Celebration in the fire
Demonic shroud
From the mud and mire

Eloi eloi lema sabachthani
Why have you forsaken me?
He looked to the sky
Breathes out clock strikes three

Veil torn
Ground shakes
People mourn
Buried in the grave

Three days
Arisen
He pays
I’m forgiven.