We continue our Lenten meditations with stanzas 29 – 37 of George Herbert’s poem “The Sacrifice.” 

(The bullets allow me to single-space the lines.)

• They choose a murderer, and all agree
• In him to do themselves a courtesy:
• For it was their own case who killed me:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• And a seditious murderer he was:
• But I the Prince of peace; peace that doth pass
• All understanding, more than heaven doth glass:     [“glasse” = appear, show in heaven]
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?             

• Why, Caesar is their only King, not I:
• He clave the stony rock, when they were dry;
• But surely not their hearts, as I well try:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• Ah! how they scourge me! yet my tenderness
• Doubles each lash: and yet their bitterness
• Windes up my grief to a mysteriousness:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?             

• They buffet him, and box him as they list,
• Who grasps the earth and heaven with his fist,
• And never yet, whom he would punish, missed:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?             

• Behold, they spit on me in scornful wise,
• Who by my spittle gave the blind man eyes,
• Leaving his blindness to my enemies:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• My face they cover, though it be divine.
• As Moses face was veiled, so is mine,
• Lest on their double-dark souls either shine:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• Servants and abjects flout me; they are witty:
• Now prophesy who strikes thee, is their ditty.
• So they in me deny themselves all pity:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• And now I am delivered unto death,
• Which each one calls for so with utmost breath,
• That he before me well nigh suffereth:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?  –“The Sacrifice” by George Herbert, stanzas 29 – 37.

Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” (Matthew 26..67, 68, ESV)

They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19.15, ESV)

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27.20 – 23, NIV)

Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 27.26, ESV)