day twelve moment

"you do not understand Christ
until you understand His cross"
P.T. Forsyth

morning

the streets filled with worshipers
some of whom stop and stare
and once again
Jesus is a spectacle
some even forsake worship
to satiate their lust for the bizarre

whose faces does Jesus see
and what does He see on those faces

when he catches their eye
do they offer silent support
or turn away embarrassed

Caiaphas calls for Pilate
Pilate tries to turn away

rid himself
avoid
and yet is curious

who is this man Jesus

from the mouth of Jesus
"I came to speak the truth"

from the mouth of Pilate
"what is truth anyway"

and Pilate passes Jesus on to Herod

the Lord of the Sabbath
physically weak
exhausted
again silent

where are his defenders
Nicodemus
Joseph
the disciples

where would I have been

where religion instead of worship is given free reign
its end is always murder