Upon the rugged hill, the Cross ascends,
A timber stark where mercy’s might was shown,
Its shadow falls where human failing ends,
And love divine through sacrifice has grown.
The nails that pierced, the blood that freely fell,
Did rend the veil of sin’s unyielding night,
A power vast, no mortal tongue can tell,
Restored the lost to grace’s boundless light.
The tempests bow, the heavens stand in awe,
For death itself was conquered by that tree,
Its triumph echoes through eternal law,
A ransom paid to set the captive free.
O Cross of Christ, thy strength shall never fade,
In thee, the world’s salvation was remade.

Upon their lips the sacred words do fall,
Yet in their heart a shadowed doubt resides,
They sing of grace, but heed not heaven’s call,
A mask of faith their truest self derides.
With honeyed tongue they weave a pious tale,
While secret sins like thorns within them grow,
Their soul, a ship with torn and tattered sail,
Drifts twixt the light and depths they dare not know.
Oh, how they kneel to pray at dawn’s first gleam,
Yet turn to chase the idols of their mind,
A fractured one, caught fast in fleeting dream,
Whose double will leaves truth and peace behind.
For God’s clear eye sees through each veiled deceit,
And leaves the wav’rer lost in soul’s defeat.

A traveler fell where shadows gripped the way,
Robbed, broken, left to fade in dust and pain,
The pious passed, their glances turned astray,
No valor stirred beneath their sacred reign.
Yet one drew near, with courage in his stride,
A Samaritan, despised by prideful eyes,
Compassion lit his heart, a Christ-like tide,
To bind the wounds where mercy’s echo lies.
With gentle hands, he poured the oil of peace,
His cloak a shield, his steed a humble throne,
In selfless love, he wrote a bold release,
A script of grace on flesh and blood and bone.
Through him, the Savior’s face shines clear and true,
Courage and care, the Word made flesh anew.