Knowing
reflections for Good Friday
reflections for Good Friday
So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”;
the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.
(1 Corinthians 15:45)
THE FIRST ADAM:
Garden-delight
naked-joy
Knowing good
only good
naught but good
Good is free
whole and secure
Good is life
rich and overflowing
Good is Eden
Knowing good
only good
All is good
What could be other than good?
Good is all I need
Good is all I know
My Maker is good wise and knows other
I do not
Knowing good
only good
I abide in my Maker
and know His goodness
I am joyful
complete
content
Knowing good
only good
What else could there be?
What if I could know as my Maker knows?
I cannot imagine “non-good”
What is it?
Why can’t I know?
Why must I ignorant be?
I know good
I also want to know more
Never have I, but now…
now wondering
now curious
now questioning
“There is more to know: Taste.
Taste of this tree.”
O horror!
The sin!
What have I done?
Naked-shame!
Never have I, but now…
now exposed!
now fearful!
now hiding!
Cover me
Discard me
Send me away
Oh, that I knew naught but good!
THE LAST ADAM:
Garden-struggle
naked-foreboding
Knowing good
knowing evil
Knowing what must be done
Knowing love
knowing truth
Preparing for hate
submitting to lies
Hard pressed
Gethsemane
Never have I, but now…
now lonely
now anxious
now restless
Stay with me
pray with me
If possible, take this cup from me
Knowing good
knowing evil
Knowing what must be done
Never have I, but now…
now betrayed
now chained
now shamed
now blamed
Caiaphas knows naught but Sanhedrin law
Pilate knows naught but Pretorian rule
Herod knows naught but selfish delights
Crowds know naught but mob excitements
Soldiers know naught but orders and duty
Never have I, but now…
now bruised
now tormented
now tortured
now pierced
Knowing good
knowing evil
Knowing what must be done
But they…
Having forgotten good
having learned evil
They know neither
They know not what they do
Father, forgive them
Never have I, but now…
now hanging
now writhing
now thirsting
now gasping
Knowing good
knowing evil
Knowing what must be done
Knowing what joy lies beyond
Today you will be with me in Paradise
“There is yet more to know: Taste.
Taste of this tree.”
O horror!
The sin!
The stain!
The stench!
Never have I, but now…
now cut off
now forsaken
now isolated and abandoned
now dead
Now I know all they know
©2023, David B. Roberts