How Could They Not!
In an ancient olive grove
Just a stones throw away
How could they not just sit and wait?
Not take the time to kneel and pray?
Each day and night for weeks, for years,
They saw the love that you displayed.
But even when they saw your tears
They could not sit, to watch and pray!
Overwhelmed with sorrow in your soul
And falling to the ground,
They fell asleep, it sounds so cold,
But the Father did not let you down!
The angels came to give you strength
As drops of blood and sweat fell down,
Please Father take this cup away,
And still, they could not watch and pray!
If you had asked, I would have stayed!
I never would have let you down,
I would have stayed there by your side,
I would have stood and held my ground!
Never would they get past me
Not after all I saw you do.
I knew you were the Son of God,
I could never have deserted you!
Yea right, oh foolish, wretched man,
Right now I cry because I know,
I would have been the first to sleep,
I would have been the first to go!
An hour's time, three times you prayed
While the Father listened from His throne,
Overwhelmed by sorrow clearly seen
Just like my sins are clear to you!
I waste more time in worldly ways
When I should wale and weep and morn,
My tears should fall like summer rains,
You went through hell to lead me home!
You went through such a horrid death
For the sake of mankind, sinners all,
The Fathers will was your concern
To give all the chance to heed your call!
Oh wretched, awful, sinful man
How can I even look at you?
I know your heart, you know my own,
My sins like spears still pierce me through.
I'm sorry Lord, I'm weak and small
My sin and shame you see so clear,
Yet still you ask for me to come
Your mercy brings my heart to tears.
Even after all I've done
The lies, the sins, those evil thoughts,
You offer grace for all who see,
Even such a man as me!
What word, or thought, what can I do?
Having known what you went through?
I kneel, I fall, I crawl in tears,
Wretched, unworthy, forgiven, like all,
Thank You for what you went through!
Stephen Ray Armstrong
Posted in: Christian Poetry, Humility