by Jason Kirk Bartley

The whip with shrapnel cracked and tore the flesh in His back,
ripping and tearing His skin,
blood gushing,
He was broken, lonely, bleeding within.
He carried His own cross up Calvary’s hill,
‘till He could go no further and everything stood still.
Simon was forced to help Him along,
the crucifixion wouldn’t take long,
Several times His legs gave way and He fell on His face,
trudging along to where it all would take place.
He continued on to bring a new day with a new dawn.
He was in no one’s game and He was no one’s pawn.
They led Him up Golgotha’s hill,
The crowd so boisterous,
He’d have to face still.
They’d ask Him many questions and challenge Him to come down,
no compassion could He find,
or could be found.
for He was forsaken by everyone around.
He took the cross for me that day,
had I been the only one to exist He’d do it the same way.
We were on His mind and the mission had to be done,
they crucified and killed God’s only Son.
At least that’s how it was to end I suppose,
‘till up from the grave He finally arose.
King of all kings,
the mighty one,
the only power,
found in God’s own Son,
death, hell and grave had bowed at His feet.
Salvation was a finished work,
in Him made complete.

Jason Kirk Bartley is a Christian poet from Chillicothe, Ohio. He is 47 years old and married to Nila, his forever love. He has been published poems and won awards. Jason holds a Master’s degree in Ministry from Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio.