March 28, 2001 Stand on the Hill

 

I stood in the crowd, not wanting to be seen,

I watched as His feet stumbled up the hill.

I wanted to run to His side, but I froze,

I was one of the crowd, I stood quiet and still.

 

I watched as He passed, my heart skipped a beat,

He turned His head and His eyes fixed on mine.

I was trying to hide but He stared right at me,

I saw love, not hate; something new, something Divine.

 

The procession moved on and my view was blocked,

The crowd became quiet, people strained to see.

It was then that I heard the sound of a hammer,

It was metal on metal, “Oh no, it can’t be”.

 

I forced my way forward to the front of the crowd

And stood there in horror as I stared at the sight.

He was lying on a cross with His arms outstretched,

There was nothing I could do to ease His plight.

 

The sound that I heard was the striking of nails,

Soldiers were pounding them through His hands and His feet.

I pushed even closer, for I wanted to see,

I could not believe that He lay there in defeat.

 

The next sound I heard was the thud of the cross

As it dropped in the hole that the soldiers had dug.

The strain tore His flesh as the nails held firm,

His flesh was in shreds as it oozed out its blood.

 

His mother and friends looked on through their tears,

Their Hope of salvation hung dying up there.

Their Deliverer and Master was about to die,

Their future was hopeless; all they could do was stare.

 

The earth began to shake and the sun hid its face,

Then the sound of His voice could be heard above all,

“It is finished”, He shouted; His voice could be heard

Above thunder and lightening - I stood there in awe.

 

With my eyes fixed on Jesus, I walked up the hill,

Right up to the foot of the cross I came,

I stood on the ground that seeped up His blood,

I looked in His eyes and He uttered my name.

 

I hated my fear that made me stand in the crowd,

Why was I ashamed to be known as His friend?

That look in His eyes bore straight to my heart,

I promised never again in the crowd to blend.

 

On that hill named Calvary Jesus took His stand,

While the depths of hell vented all of its fury.

But it’s His shout of vict’ry that rings in my ears,

And from this day on it is a different story.

 

I, too, have decided to stand on that hill

By the side of my Savior; to make a new start.

I’ll stand tall and firm, no longer ashamed,

For that look in His eyes has conquered my heart.

 

David Peckham