The Road to the Cross …

… started in eternity

In counsels eternal,
the Godhead conferred
– the Father, the Spirit,
the Son, holy Word:

creation was planned
and its wardens designed
to love their Creator
in heart and in mind;

he planned for redemption
for when they would fall
to sin and rebellion –
the fine paid in full:

the Father was willing
his Son would agree
to come to the manger
our Saviour to be

– from throne to a cowshed,
from honour to shame
to show us the Father
and rescue he came,

was spat on, insulted,
and nailed to a cross:
our sins’ guilt and wages –
his agony, loss,

until, ‘It is finished’
– salvation procured,
the payment completed
through all he endured.

Then risen to comfort,
his Spirit to send
to lead all his children
to the glorious end.

as 'I've been doing a little editing on this today, I'm realising to, belatedly, in response to Bee's question, add that this can be sung to a tune of 11 11 11 11 meter, combining two verses to one of the tune. My preference would be for 'St Luke'  but 'St Denio' [the tune of 'Immortal, invisible,God only wise'] will fit it OK I think. (Dactylic meter not iambic/trochaic ie three syllables to a foot!)