Christ in the Wilderness
©2016 Susan Noyes Anderson
“Christ in the Wilderness” art by Stanley Spencer
Larger than life am I, thy Lord, and yet
I too must wander in the wilderness,
must wield the crushing weight of man’s distress,
must cleanse the fallen earth in blood and sweat.
Until my vow to save and bless is met,
such godly power in me I do repress
as would escape the pain and wretchedness
that summon me to pay my brother’s debt.
There is no gentler sacrifice for me;
of my own will, I drink the bitter cup.
For I must conquer death to set men free,
that all the world, through me, be lifted up.
My life I lay down gladly to this end
and hope that every soul might call me Friend.
