Two Josephs

Joseph came and took Him in hand.

Carefully he laid Jesus down.

Breath held, the earth gathered around

In worship. Silence held the land.

Side by side stood the low and grand

To touch the hem of the baby’s gown.

Joseph came and took Him in hand.

Carefully he laid Jesus down.

Stepping from his place he came to stand,

Risking his position and renown,

Under the cross. He reached a hand

To take the body of the Son of Man.

Joseph came and took Him in hand.

Carefully he laid Jesus down.

Walker's Question

As I go out walking

In the crispness of eve,

I think of my living

And what I believe.

I see my own sins

In the clouds of the sky,

And brings me to ask,

Why Jesus did die?

I know I’m not worth it,

Not the man I have been,

For all my good works

Cannot cover my sin.

So I ask for God’s grace,

For this gift He will give.

There is the answer,

Why Jesus does live.

Son of Man

SON OF MAN

God’s wrath; His agony is felt too well.

He hangs in myth. He spills downward a tear.

Where are those heroes? Are the travails forgot?

People turn away, leave him dying here.

Truly, the crying of forsaking swells

Into seven times seven angry fears.

We taunt to keep him moving, soothing not

His soul by worldly ways. All the Earth sneers

To see him hung in pain and private hell.

It scourges him and tortures him. It’s clear.

Our glee has spun a rope of thorny knots.

We meet his claim with games of chance and jeers,

        But while we stand and wait to see him die,

        Down comes salvation from the darkened sky.

Illustration: Christ by the author, 1958