The Bible in Poetry: Gethsemane to Calvary

Extracted from the Bible In Poetry

From Genesis to Revelation

Gethsemane to Calvary

In Gethsemane

 

Imploring his disciples to watch, he prayed in Gethsemane,

There he prayed to his Father, “Take this cup from me,”

No doubt the Father was sharing in the anguish of His Son,

“Nevertheless,” He would continue, “Let Thy will be done.”

Then he came to his disciples and found them fast asleep,

They could not watch with him one hour, neither vigil keep;

“Rise and let’s be going,” he said “the hour is now at hand,”

Lurking near was Judas who would betray the Son of man.

The Arrest

Forthwith he came to Jesus with a great multitude in train,

Sent by the priest and elders the plan was now made plain;

At Judas’ kiss the Lord asked my friend why did you come,

Next cruel hands arrested him; they took away God’s Son.

One of them with Jesus had severed the high priest’s ear,

Jesus told him put up his sword restoring the ear with care.

He could pray to the Father for protection if it were his will,

But all this was done that the scriptures might be fulfilled.

Then all the disciples forsook him; all of them had fled,

Even Peter following afar off had forgotten what he said;

The priests sought false witnesses; none they ever found,

But still they trumped up charges even though unsound.

They asked, “Are you the Christ; are you really God’s Son?”

You will see me later said he coming in the clouds of heaven.

The high priest had rent his clothes for he was very angry,

“He has spoken blasphemy,” said he, “Of death he is guilty.”

  Peter’s Denial

As Peter sat in the palace a damsel came to him saying,

“You were with the Galilean; it’s no use your denying.”

When he went into the porch he did meet another there,

Yet he denied the second time; Peter was full of fear.

The third time Peter was accused, curse and swear did he,

On Peter’s third denial the cock had crowed immediately;

“Before the cock crow twice,” Peter remembered instantly,

And as Peter went out of the porch he was weeping bitterly.

Jesus’ Trial

When they had bound Jesus they led him away to Pilate,

When Judas saw him condemn he was in an awful state;

The money he tried to return the priests and elders refused,

So to go and hang himself was the way Judas did choose.

The elders then took counsel; with the money bought a field,

They had taken this decision; together it had been sealed;

Called the potter’s field because it was paid for with blood,

Just thirty pieces of silver was the price at which it stood.

Pilate’s first question to Jesus: “Art thou the king of the Jews?”

Jesus said “Thou sayest” and all the other questions refused.

Then Pilate said to the people, “I find no fault with this man.”

Then sent him off to Herod after he learnt he was a Galilean.

Herod had wanted to see Jesus for quite a long season,

He had heard a lot of him and the miracles he had done;

To the questions Herod asked he answered not a word,

Herod must have wondered at all the things he had heard.

Herod and his men of war had Jesus mocked and ridiculed,

Then he sent him back to Pilate as though he were a fool;

He placed on him a royal robe; no longer would he bother,

Pilate and he at war before now they were mates together.

Pilate then called together all the rulers and the priests,

I find no fault, he said, I’ll flog him and have him released;

But of necessity someone must be freed for the feast,

They cried crucify Jesus so Barabbas’ jail term ceased.

 

But Barabbas was a robber, an unrepentant terrorist,

His release for Jesus was merely a farce of justice;

Pilate heeded the people’s “We have no king but Caesar,”

So he released to them one guilty of sedition and murder.

Pilate was very disturbed by a dream his wife had told,

“He is a just man,” she said, but Pilate had to be bold;

“What must I do with Jesus, he who is called the Christ?”

"Crucify him! Crucify him!" That was their form of justice.

As Caiaphas once reminded, someone must be sacrificed,

Thus just as God would have it Jesus must pay the price;

As they led him out they laid hands on Simon of Cyrene,

Making him carry the cross as support for the Galilean.

  

The Crucifixion

 

Crucified with two thieves, hanging from the middle cross,

God had paid the ransom price for His world that was lost;

Father forgive them he said for they know not what they do,

His death covered our shame, crucified for me and you.

Truly I say to you today you will be with me in paradise,

One malefactor was a beneficiary the other was unwise.

“Woman this is your son,” he said, “Son this is your mother.”

Even from the cross, for his absence, he provided another.

“My God, My God,” he asked, “Why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus experienced this anguish; hell need not be our destiny;

Creator of the rivers and the sea yet he had said, “I thirst.”

Suffering death by crucifixion he as such became a curse.

The greatest words ever heard, “It is finished,” Jesus said,

Some do say the devil laughed now that Jesus was dead;

He would rue this fact for he knew not what lay ahead,

For Jesus soon would rise, leaving the grave clothes in bed. 

  

“Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit,” Jesus shouted,

Here a shout of assurance, to the Father he was committed;

Should have reminded all the rulers and Pilate the Governor,

That laying down his life he takes it up; Jesus is the Creator.

Now when the Roman centurion had seen what was done,

He too would conclude that of a truth this was God’s Son.

But all of Jesus’ acquaintance then followed from afar off,

And the far off women too, they stood beholding the cross.

Stewart Russell © 2013