Maundy Thursday

Jesus’ end begins by being betrayed. His identity attested to, He’s arrested. The Prince of Peace is then misrepresented by His own alliance’s violence. The Son of Man is handed over, abandoned, and finally denied by His most vital disciple. The Great High Priest is questioned by the least of high priests and struck by an official for speaking openly. “There is only hope in me.” Pompous leaders with malice mean to stay clean, they won’t cross the brink of Pontius’ palace. They say He’s seized because Jesus would see Caesar cease Inside He’s interrogated and berated, yet elevated to the status of King, though Truth Himself is doubted and flouted Stupefied, the self- righteous riotous mob cry to see the Messiah crucified. The Passover lamb ends up passed over for a murderer God is flogged, given a mocker’s makeover, and then dressed in majestic purple; given purple wounds with no dressing Addressed as innocent by the governor, the government weighed heavy on His heavenly heaving shoulders amidst shudders. Jesus tried, then crucified, crucified. The sign sings the Good News the confused had refused: Jesus “King of the Jews.” The Lord forlorn, though forewarned, His simple seamless garment isn’t torn like the Temple Veil; signifying where harm is meant, peace will prevail. As His vigor dips, the Son of God sips bitter vinegar, but the pain lingers His lips split to echo the refrain of the Psalm singer Then, in a tone diminished “It is Finished.” The Life denied, with that cry Jesus died for the blind seduced by Lucifer’s lies. But as the prophet had spoken, His legs were not broken, for blood and water left the ground soaking where the spear poked Him fiercely piercing the Prince. It left soldiers convinced of His death A despondent respondent, the whole Globe is robed in darkness, as before the Creation, and the Earth shakes and groans as it takes the Word that atones our Salvation.