And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know now what they do.” . . . And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” Luke 23:34-35
Rulers: If you are the Chosen One . . .
Save yourself!
Soldiers: If you are the King of the Jews
Save yourself!
Criminals: If you are Messiah
Save yourself! and us!
Messiahs breath catches, snags on the nails, streams out in shreds. No . . .
Not me and you
not both and all
no and–but or.
It’s one or the other.
Save myself or you?
I choose you. I choose . . .
from the other side, a whisper choked and raw,
barely raised above the mutters and jeers:
“Lord? . . . that kingdom you talked about?
When it’s finally yours–remember me?”
Bloody fingers slowly uncurl and stretch; the right hand of one to the left of the other.
When it is mine, it will also be yours.
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