CROSS SUFFERING

Christ suffered on the cross,
physically hurting,
Worse than anything I've ever known.
And I, like most, have known pain so bad,
I would rather die,
than endure it again.

He chose this suffering,
mankind loving.
More than anything I've ever known.
And I, like most, have known love so deep,
but I wouldn't die,
like he did for me.

He chose separation,
caused by sin,
As bad as anything I've ever done.
And I, like most, have known sin so ugly,
yet continue in it,
to live.

Loneliness and loss,
His emotions hurting,
worse than anything I've ever felt.
And I, sometimes, have cried all night,
just to awaken,
and cry again.

To choose the cross,
separation and pain,
Unlike anything we'll ever know.
The worst betrayal, best friends lost,
all alone,
He faced our sins.

 Both man and God,
His fate dreading,
the perfect sacrifice for me.
He lived as man but died as God.
and arose,
to set me free.

Andrew H. Ellis
Copyright © 2008