"If He Only Knew." - The Father

I know He thinks I've forsaken Him because He is face to face with His fate.

If only He knew I had to turn a deaf ear in order to make Him great. 

I know He thinks He I am gone from Him because He is numb with pain.

If only He know I had to reject Him in order to accept you in your shame. 

I know He thinks I've abandoned Him because He can no longer hear my voice.

If only He knew I had to shut up in order to give you Salvation's choice. 

I know He thinks I've turned my back on Him because He can no longer feel my touch.

If only He knew I had to walk away from Him because I love you so very much. 

I know He thinks I can no longer hear Him because He screams out loud at the sky. 

If only He knew how proud I was. My holy and royal Son, for sinners, would die. 

I know He thinks I can longer see Him because I've let them beat Him beyond measure.

If only He knew in only three days He would enter into His greatest treasure. 

I know He thinks I no longer love Him because of the nails ripping through His skin.

If only He knew because of His obedience, He was wiping away the world's sin. 

I know He thinks I have left Him because He hangs like a murderer to die.

But I know my Son will soon see I never left, not for one second, as I am living on the inside. 

I live inside of Him, His motivation to endure the cross.

I live inside of Him. All will be gain, my Son! All will be gain that You have lost!  

I live inside of Him, His ability to say, "Forgive them" as they beat nails through His wrists.

I live inside of Him, His ability to love them as they disfigure His face with their fists. 

I live inside of Him, His perseverance to not die until it is finished. 

I live inside of Him. In all of His misery, not one single person did He diminish! 

I live inside of Him, His courage to remain on the cross when He could call angels to slay His opposition.

I live inside of Him, His supernatural strength to complete His impossible mission.

Jesus, my Son. If He only knew. 

On the other side of His agony would be a forgiven, a holy, and a sinless YOU. 

"Seven Devils I Knew." - Mary Magdalene

Do you know a devil? Have you encountered one, even two?

Some called me sick, some called me slut, but Jesus called me Mary when seven devils I knew.

Do you know the torment I bore in the depths of my soul?

Do you know what it feels like to have within your heart a vast, gaping hole?

Do you know the feeling of being on Hell’s playground?

Do you know what it feels like to walk into a room and whispers lash out all around?

Have you known a devil? One or maybe two?

All rejected me when seven devils I knew.

I forgot my name. I didn’t know who I was.

I was what they called me, right? Oh, how Hell had me in the grip of its claws!

This one used me, and that one used me too.

Jesus loved me when seven devils I knew.

Seven evil voices, and they all hated me.

Seven monsters with their hands in front of my eyes, I was blind! I couldn’t see!

Many people had many names for me, the woman who knew Hell as her husband.

But Jesus called me by name in the midst of the seven and right then He stunned them.

He made the seven devils I knew come to know me.

I was not sick. I was no slut. I was God’s daughter, Mary.

On the day of His resurrection, He spoke to me first. I know it’s unbelievable, but it’s true!

The King that conquered death, Hell, and the grave came to the woman who seven devils she knew!

He sent me, the one who knew seven devils, to tell the disciples He had risen.

He sent me to share the news of Freedom, the one who had been locked up in Hell’s prison!

He made me the first preacher of the Resurrected Son. He sent me to declare, “All things are made new!”

Yes. He sent me, Mary, who seven devils I knew. 

"I Denied Him" - Peter

I denied Him. I denied Him. I denied Him, and I said I never would.

Three times I did it. I never knew I could.

I could have sworn that I loved Him. I was absolutely sure.

Am I any different than Judas? I’ve walked through a betrayer’s door.

I told Him I would die with Him, but that was nothing but a lie.

I deserve His death and punishment! I deserve to die!

I was with Him in His glory, but I left Him in His pain.

I was such a coward, and I am so ashamed!

I was with Him when they cheered Him on. I was with Him. I was in.

But I was out the moment the day turned to night and they yelled, “Crucify Him!”

I denied Him. I denied Him. I denied Him. It’s what I swore I would not do.

Three times I did it. What He said to me was true!

And then the rooster crowed, and this coward fell on his face.

I wept in bitterness. The disciple in me was gone without a trace.

I buried my face in the dirt, and I mourned the death of my courage.

Who had I become? In my soul, selfishness had flourished.

My tears wet the dust beneath me as I lamented the demise of my loyalty.

Jesus is hanging on the cross. Where’s Peter? He’s gone!  I’ve deserted Royalty!

How do I, Peter, have so many tears?

How do I of all people have so many fears?

I waited there in my grief, the countdown to my end. 5, 4, 3, 2…

“Peter, get up! He’s back just like He promised. The Master calls for you!”

My head ripped from the ground the moment I got word.

My tears dried instantly. Did I just hear what I think I heard?

Yes, I am moved that He is back from the dead, but did she say He called for me?

I denied Him. I denied Him. I denied Him. He called for me personally?

My God, this Man has loved me! He has loved me to the end!

Jesus, You're more than I ever thought. I cannot comprehend!

I denied You! I denied You! I denied You! I said I never would.

Three times I did it. I never knew I could.

You loved me. You loved me. You loved me. I can’t believe You did.

Three days of death and Hell You suffered just to prove it.

And so the time came when with confidence I asked, “Turn my cross upside down.

As they crucified me, I loved Him. I loved Him. I loved Him in my cross and in my crown.”

For Him, I died. No, there were no bitter tears. There was no shame.

I hung upside down proud, so proud to bear that Man’s name.

I, Peter, love Him. I love Him. I love Him. I never knew I could.

Three times I have said it, and a million times I would. 

Sleep On.

He’s on His face crying out. His Father is silent. His friends are asleep.
Someone comfort Him. He’s contemplating the cross. Watch Him weep.

Heaven is quiet as it closes its windows. His brothers are still in their slumber.

Someone count His cost. He’s considering the cross. His burdens are without number.

His body trembles. It shakes. Blood drips and drops from His head.

Someone run to Him! In hours, He will be dead.

Eternity turns its back. His disciples will soon run and hide.

Someone hold Him! Look at His anguish. Look at the tears He has cried.

He’s lying in the dust of despair. His Father is silent. His friends are asleep.

Someone encourage Him. Looking death in the face, there’s a promise He must keep.

Like a worm He is stretched out on the soil, dirt on his lips. Everyone is gone.

Someone lift Him up. His soul is crushed. The King can no longer go on.

His body forms a cross in the clay. His Father is silent. His friends are asleep.

Someone, please! Help Him! The grief He is carrying is in His veins, seeping deep.

His lips shake as He groans for relief. He can feel the darkness of the night on His skin.

Someone, please! Hearten Him! This man is destined to die for my sin!

His heart is about to fail in His chest. His Father is silent. His friends are asleep.

Please, Jesus. Don’t give up. It’s only in Your cross that I will ever be freed.

He lifts His face from the mud His tears created. He pushes Himself off the ground.

He clenches His jaw. He raises His chin. My voice. He heard the sound!

His mind was made up. He would die a murderer’s death.

His mind was made up. He would love me until His final breath.

He gazed into the black sky, no sign from His Father. He looked at His friends hard asleep.

“It’s okay. This is my burden to bear. My charge cannot be cheap.”

“Sleep on. This is my price. This is my cost.

This is my moment to endure my cross.”

“Stay silent. This is my dark hour. This is my time to cry.

This is my moment to climb on the tree, my moment to bleed, my moment to die.”

“Sleep on. This is my burden. My pain will be great.

It will all be worth it, though, when I take Hell’s keys and trample its gate.”

The darkest of nights leave you feeling abandoned, your face to the ground.

The darkest of nights are your only assurance that your future holds a crown.

Everyone is silent. There’s nowhere to turn.

Oh, I hope you understand. I hope you can discern!

When life has laid you out on your belly to groan.

Here, God is establishing your throne.

Oh, you’re sure you’re dying. You’re sure it’s the end!

My friend, let me help you. Your life is just about to begin.

Hold on! Clench the dirt in your hands.

Can’t you hear it? All of Heaven is cheering you on from the stands!

To all of the things you ever thought you needed to survive that are now gone.

Look at them with Destiny in your eyes and release them.

“Sleep on.”