Words of the Passion

Excerpt from Max Lucado book: ‘No Wonder They Call Him The Savior’ Part 3: The Cross: Its Wisdom - Chapter 21

Let these scatter words speak and take you on a journey from the Gethsemane to the court, through the Via Dolarosa and to the cross…then… at the tomb, where it's NOT the end...

ALIVE!
Road. Dark. Stars. Shadows. Four. Sandals. Robes.
Quiet. Suspense. Grove. Trees. Alone. Questions.
Anguish. "Father!" Sweat. God. Man. God-Man. Prostrate.
Blood. “NO!” "Yes." Angels. Comfort

Footsteps. Torches. Voices. Romans. Surprise. Swords. Kiss.
Confusion. Betrayal. Fearful. Run! Bound. Wrists. Marching.

Courtyard. Priests. Lamps. Sanhedrin. Caiaphas. Sneer.
Silk. Arrogance. Beard. Plotting. Barefoot. Rope. Calm.
Shove. Kick. Annas. Indignant. Messiah?
Trial. Nazarene. Confident. Question. Answer. Punch!

Peter. "Me?" Rooster. Thrice. Guilt.
Proceedings. Court. Rejection. Prosecute. Weary. Pale.
Witness. Liars. Inconsistent. Silence. Stares.
“Blasphemer!” Anger. Waiting. Bruised. Dirty. Fatigued.
Guards. Spit. Blindfold. Mocking. Blows. Fire. Twilight.

Sunrise. Golden. Jerusalem. Temple. Passover. Lambs. Lamb.
Worshippers. Priest. Messiah. Hearing. Fraud. Prisoner. Waiting.
Standing. Shifting. Strategy. "Pilate!” Trap. Murmurs. Exit.

Stirring. Parade. Crowd. Swell. Romans. Pilate. Toga.
Annoyed. Nervous. Officers. Tunics. Spears. Silence.
“Charge?” "Blasphemy.” Indifference. Ignore. (Wife. Dream.)
Worry. Interview. Lips. Pain. Determine. "King?" "Heaven.”
“Truth." “Truth?” Sarcasm. (Fear) "Innocent!" Roar. Voices.
“Galilean!” "Galilee?” “Herod!”

9:00 AM. Marchers. Palace. Herod. Fox. Schemer. Paunchy.
Crown. Cape. Scepter. Hall. Elegance. Silence. Manipulate.
Useless. Vexed. Revile. Taunt. “King?” Robe. Theatrical.
Cynical. Hateful. “Pilate!”

Marching. Uproar. Prisoner. Hushed. Pilate. “Innocent!” Bedlam.
"Barabbas!" Riot. Despair. Christ. Bare. Rings.
Wall. Back. Whip. Slash.
Scourge. Tear. Bone. Moan. Flesh. Rhythm.
Silence. Whip! Silence. Whip! Silence. Whip! Thorns.
Stinging. Blind. Laughter. Jeering. Scepter. Slap.
Governor. Distraught. (Almost). Eyes. Jesus. Decision.
Power. Freedom? Threats. Looks. Yelling. Weak. Basin. Water.
Swayed. Compromise. Blood. Guilt.

Soldiers. Thieves. Crosspiece. Shoulder.
Heavy. Beam. Heavy. Sun. Stagger.
Incline. Houses. Shops. Faces. Mourners. Murmurs. Pilgrims.
Women. Tumble. Cobblestone. Exhaustion. Gasping.
Simon. Pathetic. Golgotha.

Skull. Calvary. Crosses. Execution. Death. Noon. Tears.
Observers. Wails. Wine. Nude. Bruised. Swollen. Crossbeam.
Sign. Ground. Nails. Pound. Pound. Pound. Pierced. Contorted.
Thirst. Terrible. Grace. Writhing. Raised. Mounted. Hung. Suspend.
Spasms. Heaving. Sarcasm. Sponge. Tears. Taunts. Forgiveness.
Dice. Gambling. Darkness.

Absurdity.
Death. Life.
Pain. Peace.
Condemn. Promise.
Nowhere. Somewhere.
Him. Us.

“Father!” Robbers. Paradise. Wailing. Weeping. Stunned.
"Mother." Compassion. Darkness. "My God!" Afraid. Scapegoat.
Wilderness. Vinegar. "Father." Silence. Sigh. Death. Relief
Earthquake. Cemetery. Tombs. Bodies. Mystery. Curtain.
Spear. Blood. Water. Spices. Linen. Tomb.
Fear. Waiting. Despair. Stone. Mary. Running. Maybe?
Peter. John. Belief. Enlightenment. Truth. Mankind.
Alive.
Alive. Alive!!