It was the kneeling that showed me,

‘Look up’ came the voice

I glanced up and saw a new thing,

Jesus as they would have see him.

Not a cross as a crucifix,         But

bound arms pleading for release

to touch, to heal, to tenderly care,

but his feet – blood caked,

toe nails blackening,

his ankles, not visible, for the flies.

Everything wants his beloved blood,

—–

Looking further the distressed calves,

once, walking miles carrying the Saviour;

and now bloody and knotted as

they strive to hold him up.

‘Look up!’ “Keep going.” came the voice.

I looked up and the thigh muscles torn

by the whip and twisted in agony

for the man they call God.

—–

He was not covered, his manhood 

displayed, how his mother wept

feeling that once, tiny body moving 

in her womb.

—–

Further up the stomach muscles

at the end of their strength, as

they tried to keep the breath,

the very breath of God moving

through lungs tortured 

by his destiny.

—

‘Look up’ came the words

and in grief I asked to stop

but carried on to his beloved face,

those lips that brought us the

word of life, God breathed words

that will stop evil,

turn violence to peace,

hatred to love,

misery to joy,

—

I wanted to brush off the flies,

bring him down,

but the soldiers,

priests and men,

looked on with satisfaction

of a Job, now, well done.

His eyes were closed

desperation against

the bewinged desecration,

and opening he looked out,

and cried his desolation.

My God, Father,   why 

have you abandoned me?

—

He struggles with words

a sponge thrust in his face,

now he smells of cheap wine too,

Father – forgive them –

and hope is true

–.

The crown on his head is high up,

a long way from my place on the ground

the thorns forced in to his brain, wood,

wood that grew by his word,

wood that wanted to hold his love

weeps now for the power of human greed.

—

And above his head the sign,

human words, toothless

in the face of a God of love

who is here now tenderly

redeeming the world, 

each day, each second,

never giving up

for love never ends.