Crucified Man

I have placed all my hope in a crucified man,

In the wounds in his side, his feet and his hands.

I have traded my pride for a share in his shame,

And the glory that one day will burst from his pain.

I've abandoned my trust in the wise and the proud

For this fragile, mysterious weakness of God.

And I dare to believe in his scandalous claim,

That his blood cleanses sin for whoever will call on his name.

Live or die, here I stand;

I have placed my hope in a crucified man.

I believe as they beat on his beautiful face

He turned a torturer's chair into an alter of grace

Where the worst we can do met the best that God does,

Where unspeakable hate met the gaze of unstoppable love.

At the crux of it all there He hangs,

I've placed my hope in a crucified man of sorrows,

Man of grief.

Will he stay beyond belief?

When the purest and best took the force of our curse,

Death's victory armada juddered into reverse.

And either we bow or we stumble and fall,

For the wisdom of a suffering God has made fools of us all.

I gladly admit that I am,

But I've placed my hope in a crucified man of sorrows,

Man of grief.

Will he stay beyond belief?

I have buried my life in the cold earth with him

Like a seed in the winter I wait for the spring.

From that garden of tombs Eden rises again,

Paradise blooms from his body and never will end.

He'll finish all he began;

Creation hopes in a crucified man.

When I stand at the judgement I have no other plan

I have placed my hope in a crucified man.

Like the thief nailed beside him I have no other plan,

I have placed my hope in a crucified man.

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Papa Kendrick, the Godfather.