Condemned

Let this be written down for the next generation so that people not yet created will praise the LORD:
The LORD looked down from his holy summit, surveyed the earth from heaven, to hear the prisoners’ groans,
to set free those condemned to death, that the LORD’s name may be declared in Zion
and his praise declared in Jerusalem, when all people are gathered together—
all kingdoms—to serve the LORD.

God broke my strength in midstride,
cutting my days short. I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the prime of life—
your years go on from one generation to the next!

You laid the earth’s foundations long ago;
the skies are your handiwork. These things will pass away, but you will last.
All of these things will wear out like clothing; you change them like clothes, and they pass on. But you are the one!
Your years never end!

Psalms 102:18-27

The soldiers took Jesus prisoner. Carrying his cross by himself, he went out to a place called Skull Place (in Aramaic, Golgotha).  That’s where they crucified him—and two others with him, one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a public notice written and posted on the cross. It read “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. Therefore, the Jewish chief priests complained to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The king of the Jews’ but ‘This man said, “I am the king of the Jews.”’” 
​​​​​​​John 19:16-21

Lament

My eyes have looked down far too long, 

Fixed upon this path I trod. 

I feel the pouring of the rain, 

I see the loss and not the gain. 

My head is bowed, my back is bent, 

My song a flourish of lament. 

In sureness of a soothing sorrow, 

I skip today and dread tomorrow. 

The past is weight I drag behind, 

Chains upon my heart and mind. 

And yet… 

And yet I tire of this ride, 

This weight I want to set aside. 

Today I choose a different route, 

One unknown and full of doubt. 

In faith I lift my tear stained eyes, 

And look into this new sunrise. 

I trust and hope in this new day, 

And step into this brand new way.

All images in this installation are copyrighted by Matthew Nelson 2021