They cast it on your shoulders

You held it like your staff

They thought they could claim you

By choosing to laugh

You did have a choice

To beat them in their own games

But by the will of God

You chose, oh, betrayal and shame

A pair of eyes shed red tears

And several pairs shed white

Yet your red purified them all Lord

And the stained became white

I lift up my eyes toward you;

Startled by your steady gaze

A red droplet blinds my vision

A faint smile in that haze.

I am scared to look beyond it

Your eyes never leave

Your pain does leave a crease on my heart

I see how much you give

Scars so ugly, wounds profusing

As naked and fiery as coal

Yet they look like sweet couplets

Written of love on my soul

This for me a sinner? Those bruises?

Those thorns? That cross?

You died for me just, oh, just

So I wouldn’t be at loss?

You bore my sins, and took my shame

You took my guilt, and fought my case

How shall I ever repay you Lord?

Oh such amazing grace

How shall I live Lord now?

To make it all worthwhile

See that there’s no sin in me

And no hatred nor guile

Make me a body and soul of your will

That the world may see your sacrifice

How you shed your blood for us all

Your cross became the reason to rejoice.

© Mukti Masih 2019