The Finished Work

Knowing all was finished

the thirsty savior

hanging from the tree

from nailed angle bones

and spiked wrists,

his side pierced,

and his crown thorns,

forgave the crowd’s scorn

suffering agony and death

for all to be reborn.

©️April 7, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, ESV).

“Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:28-30, ESV).

A Collect for Good Friday: “Almighty God, we beseech you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the Cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).

The Raising of the Cross, by James Tissot, circa 1890

Basin and Towel

Love stoops down

it humbly bends

draped in towel

hunching over basin

it pours out water

over dirty feet

and dirty souls

mingling over meat.

Love takes basin and towel

from the servant’s seat.

Love serves their enemy

and is honored to greet.

Love lingers long

at the lowly task

of hospitality and chivalry

with the loving words,

“If I do not wash you,

you have no share with me.”

Cleansed for eternity

I do for you what was done for me.

©️April 6, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

Washed Feet

Water poured into wine

joy in celebration

from despair to the sublime.

Water poured out

by the hands of the divine

over dirty feet and grime.

Water poured out

into basin from water jar

dried by hands yet scarred.

Water poured out

for purity and cleansing

living water from the spout.

Water poured out

from the side of the savior

for this is what he came for.

To be water poured out

he emptied himself in the flow

a cleansing joy for all to know.

©️April 4, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

God of the Garden

The God of the garden

cultivated Eden’s ground

and man from dust

—freedom bound.

The God of the garden

and rebellious man

twisted in thorn and thistle

at the enemy’s hand.

The God of the garden

lay cool in the borrowed tomb

to set the captives free from death

through resurrection womb.

The God of the garden

cultivating re-creation

new birth and resurrection

new life for every nation.

©️April 3, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

A Beautiful Thing

Poured out

a fragrant offering

all that is had

is what she brings.

Sacrificial worship

is a beautiful thing

the preparation for burial

an abundant giving.

Worship is doing a beautiful thing

a fragrant anointing of our King.

©️March 26, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

“Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.’” (Matthew 26:10, NIV).

Soichi Wantanabe, Mary Washes Jesus’ Feet

Before the Storm

The sunset

before the storm

looms like sorrow

before the forlorn

seeking a new day

a sunrise—

a time to be reborn.

December 21, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

A #Sunset Before the #Storm, photo by Hugh Talman.

“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.” (Psalm 113:3, ESV).

“On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:14b, ESV).

Provision

God provides

the sacrifice

tangled in wood

caught by branches

mangled in thorn

intertwined in blood

stained thicket and scorn

snagged horns and head

bringing life from the dead

©️October 7, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

“Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.’” (Genesis 22:8, ESV).

“And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:13-14, ESV).

Photo by Hugh Talman.

Sun Rays

Sun rays

shine through

the trees, the palms,

and the morning haze.

Sun rays

pierce through

to the ground

in glory of days.

Sun rays

shatter the darkness

and then the shadows

where the light stays.

Sun rays

dance upon

the forest floor

in kaleidoscope displays.

Sun rays

awaken the morning

—ending the dawn

as it shimmers and plays.

©️September 18, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

Photo by Michael Maio.

Light Stream

Rainbow light stream

pierced the dark sky

separating earth and heaven

from ground to gray cloud

a light bridge lifting the eye

through shadowy shroud

of rain and mist and light stream

the composition of the eternal dream.

©️September 14, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

Photo by Hugh Talman.

Excited to have my poem Flower From Fissure published on Spillwords.com! Read the entire poem on Spillwords here: https://spillwords.com/flower-from-fissure/

Flower From Fissure

Beauty sprouts

through crevices

of hard concreteand dark asphalt

in looming shadows

cast upon the street….

Vocation

These hands shape

they form and make

creating good works

for the kingdom’s sake.

©November 9, 2019, Robbie Pruitt

There is a Road

There is a road

winding

through the land

embracing mountains

and traversing fields

lending a helping hand

curving around the bends

leading to the place

of soulful amends

where one road begins

and another ends

there is a road that beckons

and the wise go where it sends

©November 9, 2019, Robbie Pruitt

Moonlight Streams 

God graced 

the rippled dark waters 

of the peaceful creek 

with moonbeams 

reflecting moonlight 

in steady streams. 

©️April 17, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

Cursed Tree

Cursed is the man

who hangs upon the tree

behold the guilty

without one plea.

It was my iniquity

nailed in victory

upon the cursed tree

hanging there for all to see.

April 14, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13, ESV).

Cursed Sign

Death—the punishment 

for my crime 

the body hung on a tree 

as the sign in time 

to deter future malign. 

Cursed is the man

who hangs upon a tree

in death’s misery

a signpost for all to see

the consequences come to be.

©️April 14, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13, ESV). 

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV). 

Mansions

We build together

these foundations

these stones, these walls,

these gates, rooms, and halls.

©June 23, 2018, Robbie Pruitt

Wilderness of Zin

Into the wilderness

we wander and roam

looking for life

trying to find our home.

©June 23, 2018, Robbie Pruitt

Fountain of Anticipation

I am waiting by the valley spring

watching the peaceful waters

listening to them as they sing—

wondering what you might bring.

Ghost Valley

Through the darkened valley

the wind blows, the Spirit breeze

leading me in gentle whispers

as you had hovered over the seas.

©June 23, 2018, Robbie Pruitt

Walking the Wadi Wilderness

These desert wanderings

these vile and lonely temptations

the exile and the stolen dreams—

this life is more than it seems.

©June 23, 2018, Robbie Pruitt

April is #NationalPoetryMonth! To celebrate #poetrymonth, I am giving away a small book of #poetry called #Jerusalem: 17 #Poems for signing up on my website here: https://www.robbiepruitt.com Also available for $5. off is a book of #photography and #poetry by my friend Dave Waldrup and I called #Poetography! Happy National Poetry Month!