He knew…
He knew an angel with deadly aspirations would cause
chaos in his creation.
He knew…
He knew that forbidden fruit would stain the lips of men
as dreams of divinity filled their lusting hearts
He knew…
He knew before the foundation of the world the awful depths
to which humankind would fall
He knew…
He knew that Cains would turn against Abels
Delilahs would seduce Sampsons
Davids would lure Bathshebas and kill Uriahs
Moseses would throw temper tantrums
Israelites would dance around golden calves and scorn Red Sea-partings
to worship in shaded groves and deny his name for rocks and clay.
He knew…
He knew Judases would betray him
Peters would deny him
Roman soldiers would pierce him
Jewish priests would mock him
Consulates would wash their hands of him
He knew…
He knew lips would drink of the wine of the world
Ears would itch to hear deception
Hands would caress forbidden flesh
Feet would walk the paths of destruction
He knew…
He knew tongues would speak lies
Hearts would grow cold
Minds would rationalize his promises into foolishness
Eyes would lust after vanity
He knew…
He knew the price he'd pay to change it all
He knew..
Before the foundation of the world
He knew the bite of the whip
The humiliation of nakedness before his enemies
The sting of sweat mingled with blood trickling into his eyes
from a forehead marred with a thorny crown
The lengthy agony of the trek to his destiny
The roughness of a tree on his back
The bite of nine-inch Roman nails in his flesh
The piercing of a thick Roman spear
The blackness as he closed his eyes for the last time
as a temple veil was rent asunder and the earth shook.
He knew…
He knew the transformation only death could bring
That fearing, running prophets would herald his coming
That former adulterers would preach the gospel
That wimps would become warriors
Misers would become philanthropists
He knew…
He knew that the spark of divinity within us all would flame
into glorious life, fed by the blood of the Word made flesh
He knew…
He knew…
He knew.