Not Letting Go

You drew near to us

although we were scum and undeserving.

But we were yours

and you weren’t letting go

without a fight.

In fact

you weren’t letting go at all.

Betrayed with a kiss,

They beat and bound you

Lashed and ground you down.

Well, they tried.

But you uttered

not

one

word.

You weren’t letting go.

They crowned you with thorns

With ridicule and scorn,

Dragged you before the crowds

Who did the same all the more.

‘King of the Jews?’ they spat,

‘He’s not our King!

Crucify Him!’

So they took nails,

And they pierced you

your hands and your feet.

They hung you up there,

bleeding and cursed on a tree.

But You weren’t letting go.

They cast lots for your garments,

Tested and tempted you

To come down from there,

To save yourself,

To give up,

To let go.

But the only thing you were giving up

Was your Spirit

in to the hands of the Father.

Letting go of your life

as ransom for ours.

To save us.

You were pierced for our transgressions.

Crushed for our iniquities.

The punishment that brought us peace was upon you,

And by your wounds we are healed.

Broken, forsaken and yet still forgiving.

Oh righteous Christ,

full of grace, abounding in love

even at the point of death,

giving up your last breath,

You never let me go.