51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Matthew 26:51-53 KJV
~~~~~~~~~~~
The sacrificial Lamb, obedient,
Stood ready to be given up for you,
Could call for legioned angels to be sent
To save Him from the death that would ensue.
But no, this was not time to wield a sword;
The days of ‘eye for eye’ had passed away.
Christ came to yield His life, our sovereign Lord;
The pure unspotted Lamb would have His day.
The sins of all the world would soon be borne
Upon the shoulders of the Lamb of God,
Then beaten, bloody, His whole body torn
Was bound for victory with love to laud.
The sword was put away as so much dross
And in its stead was glory on the cross.
~~~~~~~~~~~
sonnet #407
Back of the Choir 