"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?.....All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

"He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him, since he delights in him....."

"Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones, they divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." -- Psalm 22:1-18

"The Pharisees Are Not Quite Done!"

Liberal critics scream with Passion,
(They're now so squeamish over blood!)
The Malcontents are frothing hotter,
Dragging Gibson through the mud.

They'll denigrate the Christian's message,
This one who dared to film the Truth...
They're now aghast with feigned revulsion,
Crying "Foul!"....."Unfair!"...Uncouth!"

Hear them growl and watch them snarling...
Like mad dogs they circle 'round,
Ripping into this director...
Snapping at him on the ground.

This, you see, is known as "tolerance",
It's the liberal 'thing' today...
See their whipping boy, Mel Gibson,
Whose career they'd love to flay.

Just don't let them near the Bible...
Quick! Hide Isaiah 53!
It's just too graphic for the public.
(That's Hollywood Hypocrisy!)

It looks like Mel has met his match now;
The glitterati hiss and boo.
Script-burning zealots striking matches...
The next to burn?..... Psalm 22.

They all just "luv" the Lamb of Mary,
But not the Paschal bloody mess...
They want the lovey-dovey Jesus...
But his Cross?......They just detest !

They like Good Friday bright and cheery...
Their Easter weekend sanitized.
They like the dreamy eggs and bunnies,
But not Messiah brutalized.

So, Brother Mel...you best get ready...
The Pharisees are not quite done.
The Roman Critics have the whips out.
It seems the scourging's just begun.

The Liberal Long Knives drawn and ready...
The Bull of Bashan's at your door.
I think the Via Dolorosa
Is The Way you're chosen for.

The shallow critics lashing out now,
May awake The Church Asleep.
Perhaps the slumber may be over (?).
The stripes of Jesus cutting deep.

So let's rejoice at this Awakening...
Let's not complain that it's "not fair"!
In Christ who died our rights were swallowed...
And in His suffering we may share!

Don't be surprised by Gibson's bashing;
Don't be shocked by Braveheart's trial.
After all, Messiah warned us....
It's just man's way of Guilt Denial.

The Salt of Truth does sting infection.
The Light is harsh as Darkness flees...
Just praise the Lord for His rich Mercy.
The Vic'try's won oe'r Sin's Disease!

* * * * * * *

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him., and by his wounds we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter..... Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. -- Isaiah 53:3-10

Permission to post this material on Circuit Rider's Range has been granted by:

Tom Graffagnino
Hamilton, Georgia
You may respond to Tom at TGRAFFGA@aol.com
His written and art works may be viewed at his web site at
Without Excuse Creations