Station I, Jesus is Condemned

I Jesus Is Condemned <

"First thing in the morning, the chief priests, together with the elders and scribes and the rest of the Sanhedrin, had their plan ready. They had Jesus bound and took him away and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' He replied, 'It is you who say it.' And the chief priests brought many accusations against him. Pilate questioned him again, 'Have you no reply at all? See how many accusations they are bringing against you!' But, to Pilate's surprise, Jesus made no further reply."
St. Mark, 15:1-5

I Convention sees a sun-filled morning when
deep shadows cast elongated icons;
when night's cool comfort lingers alien
amid the bright’ning shallows as the dawn's
resigned surrender to the rising heat
well follows the rooster's crow; when a crowd
assembles in the courtyard to complete
the plot birthed under night's seditious shroud.
-Horizon sun on Roman armor burns
the eyes. The polished marble columns flame.
To The Man, indistinct in brightness, turns
the judge engaged to indulge human shame.
On steps his shadow fractures. He issues
a query, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

"Now as he was seated in the chair of judgment, his wife sent him a message, 'Have nothing to do with that upright man;
I have been extremely upset today by a dream that I had about him.'"
St. Matthew, 27:19
"So Pilate went back to the Praetorium and called Jesus to him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' Jesus replied, 'Do you ask this of your own accord or have others said it to you about me?' Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?'"
St. John 18:33-35

II
Learned Pilate what thoughts thought you as you stood
with tense guards, crazed crowd, and this innocent?
Your wife's dream, did it trouble you? How could
blind Justice see this deed with your consent?
Rome conquers but only the rabble rules.
Barabbas, then and now, the mob's dictate.
Preferring the murderous thug, what fools
we play; what poverty our souls' estate.
From our hands, prism drops of water fall.
We dry them. We deny our part in it.
We choose to cower not to stand, like all
have done: ease over morals, lies to grit.
Contempt had Pilate for truth, he well knew
when he cynic'lly asked, "Am I a Jew?"

"Pilate said, 'So then, you are a king?'
Jesus answered, 'It is you who say that I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.'
'Truth?' said Pilate, 'What is that? And so saying he went out again to the Jews and said, 'I find no case against him. But according to a custom of yours I should release one prisoner at the Passover; would you like me, then, to release for you the king of the Jews?'
At this they shouted, 'Not this man,' they said, 'but Barabbas.' Barabbas was a bandit."
St. John, 18:37-40

III

So judgment is passed and a crowd sufficed.
The sentence sounds the words: to crucify.
The pure unblemished will be sacrificed
for these souls here that bought Hell's empty lie
s that sins are naught. Oh Lord, silver we pay
to have you bound. "Barabbas" we elect,
when making our choice. And too well we play
our part in this world's greed. Yet, so select
of all our sins is aiding injustice.
We leave the poor to famish, the infirm
abandoned, the un-loved unloved, and this
you die to forgive, the proud human worm.
As youstand mute in that morn's fading youth,
Does Pilate know that you are, "What is Truth?"

© E. David

  Station I: Jesus is Condemned   Station II: Jesus Accepts the Cross
  Station III: Jesus Falls the First Time   Station IV: Jesus Meets His Mother
  Station V: Simon of Cyrene Carries the Cross Station VI: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
  Station VII: Jesus Falls the Second Time   Station VIII: Jesus Meets the Women
  Station IX: Jesus Falls the Third Time   Station X: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
Station XI: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross   Station XII: Jesus Dies
Station XIII: Jesus is Taken from the Cross   Station XIV: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
e-mail
HOME

	"First thing in the morning, the chief priests, together with the elders and scribes and the rest of the Sanhedrin, had their plan ready. They had Jesus bound and took him away and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' He replied, 'It is you who say it.' And the chief priests brought many accusations against him. Pilate questioned him again, 'Have you no reply at all? See how many accusations they are bringing against you!' But, to Pilate's surprise, Jesus made no further reply." St. Mark, 15:1-5
	I Convention sees a sun-filled morning when deep shadows cast elongated icons; when night's cool comfort lingers alien amid the bright’ning shallows as the dawn's resigned surrender to the rising heat well follows the rooster's crow; when a crowd assembles in the courtyard to complete the plot birthed under night's seditious shroud. -Horizon sun on Roman armor burns the eyes. The polished marble columns flame. To The Man, indistinct in brightness, turns the judge engaged to indulge human shame. On steps his shadow fractures. He issues a query, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
	"Now as he was seated in the chair of judgment, his wife sent him a message, 'Have nothing to do with that upright man; I have been extremely upset today by a dream that I had about him.'" St. Matthew, 27:19 "So Pilate went back to the Praetorium and called Jesus to him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' Jesus replied, 'Do you ask this of your own accord or have others said it to you about me?' Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?'" St. John 18:33-35
	II Learned Pilate what thoughts thought you as you stood with tense guards, crazed crowd, and this innocent? Your wife's dream, did it trouble you? How could blind Justice see this deed with your consent? Rome conquers but only the rabble rules. Barabbas, then and now, the mob's dictate. Preferring the murderous thug, what fools we play; what poverty our souls' estate. From our hands, prism drops of water fall. We dry them. We deny our part in it. We choose to cower not to stand, like all have done: ease over morals, lies to grit. Contempt had Pilate for truth, he well knew when he cynic'lly asked, "Am I a Jew?"
	"Pilate said, 'So then, you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'It is you who say that I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.' 'Truth?' said Pilate, 'What is that? And so saying he went out again to the Jews and said, 'I find no case against him. But according to a custom of yours I should release one prisoner at the Passover; would you like me, then, to release for you the king of the Jews?' At this they shouted, 'Not this man,' they said, 'but Barabbas.' Barabbas was a bandit." St. John, 18:37-40
	III So judgment is passed and a crowd sufficed. The sentence sounds the words: to crucify. The pure unblemished will be sacrificed for these souls here that bought Hell's empty lie s that sins are naught. Oh Lord, silver we pay to have you bound. "Barabbas" we elect, when making our choice. And too well we play our part in this world's greed. Yet, so select of all our sins is aiding injustice. We leave the poor to famish, the infirm abandoned, the un-loved unloved, and this you die to forgive, the proud human worm. As youstand mute in that morn's fading youth, Does Pilate know that you are, "What is Truth?" © E. David