Father,
How did you hold back
As Christ was whipped and mocked?
How did you contain your wrath
Towards the crowds who flocked?
How did you prepare to watch
Your Son’s last sacrifice?
How did you stay silent
When the soldiers threw their dice?
How did you endure it
When they nailed him to the cross?
How did you bear up, Lord,
As you shared his pain and loss?
How did you contain your grief
As he paid for our sin?
How did you forgive all those
Who scoffed, and taunted him?
How did you respond
When Jesus took his final breath?
You opened wide your arms, Lord,
And received his soul, in death.
References
He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman Soldiers to be crucified (Mark 15:15; NLT).
The mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:23; NLT).
The solderers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice (Matthew 27:35; NLT).
Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross (Mark 15:24; NLT).
In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).
He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5; RSV).
“He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! (Matthew 27:42; NLT).
Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).