The Cross Forever Empty

Finished

"ὅτε οὖν ἔλαβεν τὸ ὄξος Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν,

Τετέλεσται, καὶ κλίνας τὴν κεφαλὴν

παρέδωκεν τὸ πνεῦμα."

                                                                                          (John 19:30)

There stood the lone Cross, empty and horribly used.

There stood the mystified throng, silent and confused.

There stood the disciples, quiet in lonely despair –

"Where's my wonderful Jesus?  For He's no longer there!"

The Cross – It is so graceful.  The Cross – It is so crude!

On the Cross hung my Savior.  In my place He stood.

He is no longer there.  His task is completely done.

The Cross is now empty.  For my sin He did atone.

Dread marks remind me where viciously His hands and feet

Had painfully been nailed in supposed defeat.

Blood-stained holes in the Cross, nails three upon the ground,

Earth soaked by His blood, leave a message so profound.

The Cross, standing empty, reminds me of what's been done.

At history's apex, God sacrificed His Son.

Once for all, He paid the required penalty –

Jesus took upon Himself the wrath of God due me.

With Christians through the ages, I love His final word,

– The rescue of sinners, all the creation has heard.

Saved from the hell to which I was justly banished.

The Cross forever empty!  –  Said He . . . "It is finished!"

                                                                                                                                                                   J. Alton Davis

                                                                                                                                                                            © 2012