Hated because He knew them.
Really knew them.
Knew their heart’s cores.
Their thoughts.
Their piety.
Their hopes.
Their dreams.
Their motivations.
Condemned because He was blameless.
Never sinned once.
Because He was who He was.
He was Jesus.
Immanuel.
Lord.
Healer.
Compassion.
When evil in men’s hearts won.
Plotting was successful.
He paid the price.
In stripes.
In torn flesh.
In humiliation.
In blood.
In death.
His final words, “It is finished! ”
Prior He spoke,
Father, forgive them.
Forgive them.
Forgive them.
Forgive them.
Forgive them.
Forgive them.
He knows me as thoroughly.
He tells me
To be like Him.
When hated.
When condemned.
When invaded by evil.
When broken.
When shattered.

He never said it would be easy.
                d.f.a.v. 2/20/15
—Donna