I would never do that - Jelani Walker

Matthew 26:36-41, Mark 14: 43-46, Luke 22: 66-71

I would never do that.
Look at them sleeping,
Don’t they know they need to support Him right now?
They don’t know the story
Betrayed, left alone, killed
For their sin, for my sin
I would never do that.

But have I done that
Truthfully I ask myself
Have I done that?
Have I been the one
That when asked to do
Something have yielded
Myself to my temptation
Have I done that?

Have I been the one who,
Knew who Jesus was but
Thought obedience to His command as optional?
Have I heard His word,
Felt His truth,
Longed for His desires
To be my desires
And then left Him alone?

To be truthful
I have done that.
So God I thank you
That you sent someone that could endure.
You sent someone
That could do
What I couldn’t.
Your son Jesus
Who never gave up or gave in
He never set aside or put aside
Your will or your command
He was compelled
So even though I look and may say
I would never do that
To you Jesus I am thankful

For what you did.

You Are Not Moved - Stephanie Van Huss

Matthew 26: 69-75, Mark 15: 1-5 &15, John 19: 1-3

I wake up everyday and your name is about my ears.
You live within me and stand beside me in the cool of the day.
Your grace abounds, you are the only son, the only one,
The only way.

For my foolishness and folly you weep and mourn and suffer.
A gentle, velvet hand of grace made bloody by their sentencing,
But you are not moved.
Yet I am no better than the one who proclaims:
“I do not know the man.”

I scoff at Peter’s foolishness as Peter scoffed at you,
And who is Peter but a man whose heart looks so much like mine;
Like ours?

Each day I wake up with your heart about my heart and I know,
Factually,
I know who you have been,
And what you have endured,
And how you have given and given and given -for me.
The definitive sacrifice,
One name, the abolishment of my slavery and desperate isolation,
And yet I say:
“I do not know the man.”

I am amazed at your peace in obedience to God as Pilate is amazed at your silence.
They cry “Hail! King of the Jews” in mockery of your majesty and eternal reign.
Your crown is mocked,
Your robes are mocked,
Your name is mocked,
But you are not moved.
Your purpose this day is to pay a price, regardless of what these abusers deserve.
I am forgetful, Jesus.
And I, like the mocking crowd, turn my face from you.
I satisfy the crowds about me as Pilate satisfies the crowd.
And in my weakness and to my shame I say:
“I do not know the man.”

But you are not moved.

Simon's Demon - Simon Clark

John 19: 6 & 15-17, Mark 15: 21, Luke 23: 27-31

Do not ask about the green, green wood
That stood long ago.
It has nothing to give.
Simon, listen – leave here and live.

Come on, don’t ask how a mountain can fall.
It’s not going to happen
It’s only a myth
And legends and stories have nothing to give.

Do not ask why the women are screaming
Worlds don’t end
If one woman screams.
Don’t ask what it means.

Trust me, boy. I am older than you
And in my time
I’ve picked up a trick or two.

Are you really that worried that the world might change?
Change is good.
The woods will dry
I don’t have time to tell you why.

Do not ask about the clown in the crown
He messed up.
Not like you.
Nothing you need to do.

Do not stand out when the soldiers are near
They’ll make you help
You know they will
And it’s not like you’ve got time to kill.

And do not ask about the green, green wood.
Forget it
Move on
The darkness has won

Grace on The Face - Pastor Reid Monaghan

Luke 23:33-34, Luke 23:39-43, John 19:25-27

Here we see grace on the face of the one they tried to erase…
…from history’s rolls, the skull took its toll.
They tore off his cloths, left him naked to die all alone.
They removed him…and they thought they were bold.

The punks, cowards and thugs showed no love that day
but one came with truth and knew his own soul.
They were led there as criminals, yet he brought his own cross…
…trekked up the hill to die at great cost.
Yet again we see grace…on the face…of the one they tried to erase.

But love and new family came from that face, the face that gives grace, to say to all of our sins…erased.

Jesus' Blood Covered Everything - Rebecca Del Mastro

Luke 23: 44-46, Matthew 27: 57-60

Beaten,
broken
but willing was he,
Who bore God's wrath,
For you.
And for me.
Humiliated
mocked
was the king of kings
Soon...
his blood...
would cover
everything.
And all the farther the nails drove in
The closer he was to conquering sin
Relentless was the enemy's sting
Jesus's blood
would soon
cover
everything
I can't imagine the darkened sky
The ninth hour resembling
That
Of
Night
The curtain torn
The temple destroyed
As a mother
Sits
At the feet
Of her innocent boy
Weeping were those
who believed his word
Who witnessed his power
And beside him had served
Aware of the freedom
that he had brought
and would
bring
Not knowing his blood
Must first
cover
everything
Jesus was obedient
Right unto death
Committed until
His very last breath
Then from the world Jesus would depart
it was Love
That he bled
When they pierced
his
heart
Surely this was the Son of God,
Who paid the price that you could not,
I pray your sins to the cross you'll bring,
Trusting his blood
Now covers
any
and
everything
Amen.