This week, as I sat listening to our pastor talk about Jesus, THE king, being laid on the cross, beaten, bruised, battered, ridiculed, I had this picture in my mind, not of Jesus being laid on the cross, but of Jesus actually laying himself down on the cross, as a sacrifice, MY sacrifice. The pastor went on to explain the horrific details of what it really meant to be crucified. I shuddered, yet I thought about the fact that God spoke the entire galaxy into existence with a word! A word! Now that's power, and that is the power that Jesus, God in flesh, had. I realized that at any moment, Jesus could have spoken a word. He could have ended the agony of his crucifixion with just. one. word... But he didn't. No, instead, he spoke my name.
You could have spoken just one word,
"Enough!" you could have said.
Instead you simply spoke my name
as on the cross you bled.
With just one word you could have stopped
your pain, your grief, the shame.
The angels would have rescued you.
Instead, you spoke my name.
One word and all the power
would have moved you off the cross.
But no, you stayed and spoke my name
and stayed for all the lost.
You even held together
those who beat you in disdain.
And then you said, "Forgive them,"
and again you spoke my name.
"It is finished" you called out.
It echoed throughout space.
With your last breath you said my name
in mercy, love and grace.
Now it's my turn to decide.
Which word will I bring?
Will I deny you and turn away?
Or will I call you King?
Now I can stand forgiven
because of what you've done.
I heard your word and ran to you.
All you said was, "Come."
You could have spoken just one word'
You could have shouted, "NO!"
Instead, my LORD, you spoke my name,
and that's all I need to know.
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