"Killing Jesus"

     "A Friendly Shade," takes my thoughts in many different directions as I search for what to post.  This Easter season had me looking through the list of books downloaded on my Kindle.  I noticed, "Killing Kennedy", written by Bill O'Reilly, and remembered how much I enjoyed reading his book.  I have yet to order, "Killing Jesus," also written by Bill O'Reilly, but expect to read that one soon.   
     In the meantime, I decided to post my own version of "Killing Jesus."  As a matter of fact our pastor asked us to contemplate, explore, and share the death of Christ on the cross.  The sermon's scripture today was from Isaiah 53.  In verse 7, I was reminded of Jesus's great love for us as He took on our sins in silence.   "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth."
     By Jesus's actions, He basically said, "I will gladly, and in silence, lay down my life on the cross for you. I will pay the price for your sins." That is just what He did.  He bore the ridicule, the stripes on His back, and the nails.  He did that for me and for all of mankind.

          Killing Jesus

“Let Him die,” was the decree,

    yet killing Jesus was not to be.
“Kill Him! Kill Him!” followed the cry,
    but no reason why.

The mob moved within the crowd

    shouting in voices angry and loud.

“He’s spreading rumors all abroad,
     a common man, liar, and fraud.
“Kill Him! Kill Him!”
Oh! So much mayhem!

Soldiers took the whip to thresh,  

    bringing blood and tearing flesh.   
A vine of thorns became His crown;
To a splintered cross His hands were bound;
Nails pierced His hands and feet.
The crowd came alive and began to repeat,
    “Kill Him! Kill Him!”
People watched with faces grim.     
Mockers spit in His face-
  beneath them, was His place.
The cross, slammed into the ground,
    anguish was profound;
Agony and pain
    doubled from bodily strain.
Blood covered barren skin,
    or what had been.

“Father, forgive them,” was heard by those standing there,

    just before the heavens opened, a Son to declare.
Rejected, mocked, battered, and shamed;
   a King, unnamed-
In death, the temple rent in twain.
The earth did quake the valley and plain. 
Over it all, light turned to darkness,
    shouts ended in quietness.
Fear appeared on the witness face
    in that very place.     
All was silence
    after the violence.

“Kill Him! Kill Him,” had been the cry.   
They did not know He would not die-
    nor why.
"Arise! Arise!" was God's own cry.
Salvation was the reason why.

A resurrection was God's decree;
  a plan foretold to set the sinner free.
The Son of God, a Savior, missing from the grave.
He arose to live! Souls to save.
A coming day for all to see-
Killing Jesus was not to be.
                                         Mary Crisp Jameson