Thief’s Plea - Intellectual

[Verse 1]

Stop with the disdain that you hurl

Know how His days have unfurled, before this Place of a Skull

With a plot, they opposed Him and He not once bemoaned

They brought Him to those at odds with what He taught to the folks

Yelled to crucify this Man whom they awfully loathe

I heard He said He would die, His followers thought that He won't

Thought their Messiah would free them; now on the cross we behold

And treat Him like He's already dead, casting lots for His robe

The people stop and they joke, Him they watch and provoke

To come down from the cross, to see Him drop so they know

That He's the Christ that God chose, I look on surprised how composed

He is, agonized as He groans, even despised by His own

I was in the rowdy crowd, all cheering for flogging

Now the shouts continue, I'm overhearing them talking

Everyone nearing His cross is... jeering and scoffing

With the rulers and soldiers, all sneering and mocking

Screaming demeaning words, blaspheming, wagging their heads

At His feet, a small group's mourning, all others are laughing instead

They're all looking, but not seeing, He's rejected for not leading

Them into peace and freedom, believing He's caught deceiving

Seeming He riled up false hope, I reviled Him also

Until it hit me and I noticed how vile and how cold

They act to a dying man; like them, you're an impious wretch

Do you not fear God, having the same judgment? Your demise is next!

[Chorus]

So how do you plead? Now do you see?

This Man is the King and all will bow on their knees

And we will see Him coming on the clouds with glory

So make a vow to receive; don't denounce, but believe!

He's in the centre, you're either right or you're left

The Suffering Servant, it's for your life that He bled

He came to rise and ascend, to pay the price of your debt

What humankind can't attempt; so don't deny, but accept!

[Verse 2]

This just Man hurt nobody, now He's hanging between us two

We're being punished justly, receiving our just due

I'm confused; He's innocent, but has no grudge, He's calm

We deserve this, but this Man has done nothing wrong

I got this tree for my sin and I'm dying in the midst

Pain intensifying from the wrists, I'm writhing, can't persist

But He was convicted, affixed, inflicted with spit, hits, and whips

Afflicted, His skin's ripped, He's stripped of His garments and yet He gives

Forgiveness to any claiming guilt those decrying say is His

They even cursed themselves while denying who He is

His enemies, they envy, His closest friends, they left, fleed

Frankly, how's He not angry at the contempt? He must be heavenly

Doesn't act human; so marred with scars, doesn't look it either

He took the heat, spurned; and now He overlooks them, eager

To show mercy; falsely accused, yet was a silence-keeper

Never seen a serener demeanor, just violent pleaders

And now as they try persuade Him to save His life to place

Their faith in Him, how could He be so nice to say

"Father, forgive them"? As they criticize, He prays!

So with mortifying aches, death nigh, crucified, I stake

My life on Jesus, turning to Him in my restraint

Seeking His defiant grace, I cry and gaze and I exclaim

Remember me when, in Your kingdom, You arrive to reign

"Truly, I do say, you will be with Me in Paradise today"

[Chorus - 2x]