i awoke to hear the jailer turn the key and push the door get out here he shouted but i stayed there on the floor frozen in the terror that rose and filled my brain for i knew what they intended i could not face the pain then soldiers came into the cell and they dragged me to the yard they threw me down before a cross and brought the whip down hard carry it they shouted as i struggled to my feet i put my shoulder under it and dragged it to the street i stumbled through a wall of screams as they drove me through the gate i could see the thousands lined the street their voices filled with hate like a wolf pack in the night that moves in for the kill they closed the gap in front of us as we started up the hill and it seemed i d barely reached the top as they grabbed me from behind they threw the cross under me and tied the ropes that bind the arms close to the beams as they nailed the feet and hands and they raised the cross up in the air and dropped it in it s stand through a blur of pain i saw the cross there next to mine there were people all around it so i looked to read the sign it was nailed there up above his head so the world could see the news the man who seemed so helpless there was the king of all the jews and the crowd that stood around his cross made jokes about his name they shouted laughed and spat on him so i joined in the game i said hey if you re the king why don t you get us down from here but the taunt just sounded hollow it echoed in my ears as he looked at me with eyes that seemed to reach into my heart they shone a light on all my lies and tore my life apart there was more that lay behind that gaze then simply mud and clay but knowing was too much for me i had to look away but i chanced another look at him while he was lookin down where the soldiers who just crucified us drank there on the ground and although he spoke there quietly somehow his words came through he said father please forgive them they don t know what they do and then as if they heard him speakin the crowd began to roar with the frenzy by the priests who herds them on to more but the worse the accusations the plainer i could see the guilt of the accusers not the one there next to me but the one on the other cross began to curse and swear and his voice was filled with venom as he hurled it through the air all the horror that was in him it laid his life to waste came out of every syllable he flung in jesus face jesus only looked at him but somethin rolls inside o me in spite of all that watched us there it couldn t be denied because his righteousness and innocence were shining bright and strong i just couldn t keep my silence as that cursing still went on i said don t you fear the wrath of god even at the end you ll curse us both into the pit is that what you intend we re only getting what we re due send our whole lives long but don t you talk to him that way cause he s done nothin wrong then with all my courage in a voice not my own i asked him lord remember me when you come into your throne he answered me and even then his love was undisguised he said before the sun will set today you ll be with me in paradise the shouts and curses did not stop even when the sunlight ceased but somehow in the midst of it my soul had been released though the agony continued it s still too small a price to be allowed to hear those words to die beside the christ 1979 newpax records