He died for us

That night, cold and wet, was sorrowful and ominous,                              

The sky was rumbling and thundering; it was pouring too.                      

The world witnessed the rise of Jesus, the Redeemer                                

On the cross- crowned a thorny ‘coronet of jealousy’-                                       

Not like a saviour, but like someone traitorous.                                          

He was crucified; treated as a criminal too!                                                

It broke the devoted hearts of many a griever;                                          

Yet Christ hung there statue-like, a rag full of courtesy!                              

Man seemed to be the arbitrator- declaring Gods!                                   

“Blasphemy, consecration and Baptism are child’s play.                              

We can create our own Christ, our own John and Peter,                     

Write our own Bible, and will devise commandments afresh,                 

The sun shall move on our orders; nature on our chords,                       

We can create life and destroy too,” haughtily they say.                          

Christ heard it all; yet his composure didn’t deter                                   

He was spat upon but remained calm- Why bother the mesh?              

He didn’t grumble or cry but silently accepted                                          

His flogging violently; his breath was strained, his lips parched-

And yet he managed to speak some simple tags                     

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,"-blissful!                

"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”-blighted!                              

"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit!"- Lord arched!                                      

The red blood covered the iron and spoiled the rags,                                

 Yet he made such a bona fide sacrifice! Rueful!                                        

Christ meant Messiah and many people flocked to him.                         

Fearing a rebellion, the ‘King of Jews’ was caught                               

In the Gardens of Gethsemane- blessed by his step.                          

Six trials failed and condemned Jesus to endless torment.               

He was attired in a purple robe, his mates were slim                          

All had fled in fear- Christ was in a terrible lot.                                      

For us- the foolish us- he swallowed the nasty stab;                                         

When expected to raise his sword, he went for atonement.                 

Golgotha was selected, outside Jerusalem                                       

There Jesus burdened the cross; and he was nailed to it         

The best of sacrifices ever made was held there                              

With far onlookers moaning grievously at the event.                      

Mary and Magalene filled the immortal emblem                        

Of his family. For three hours, the sky gleamingly lit,                    

And the next half was buried in a big dark layer,                            

Christ lived through oppression which he could easily prevent.                  

Two criminals flanked him on the left and on the right,                     

They were in rigorous pain and sought for Jesus’ support       

‘If you are truly the Messiah’ one said ‘save us’                             

Christ thus performed his last noble act- they died pain-freely.       

So perished the ‘Chosen One’ under the divine light,                

 With “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” as a board;         

The name of the place “Place of the skull,” gave the last hush     

“It is finished” Christ muttered as his soul fluttered freely.