Awesome, Savage, Precious Day

Tonight at our Good Friday service my friend Kevin Hartnett recited a poem he wrote entitled

"How Awesome Is That Day To Me."

He gave me permission to share it here for your encouragement.

How awesome is that day to me-
O day of hallowed history!
Set time in God's determined plan
To sacrifice the Son of Man.
What famous work that day was done
By Jesus Christ, His Perfect Son!
The Second Adam, sent to save,
Humbly obeying to the grave!

How savage is that day to me-
O day of pure brutality!
When Christ, the Son of God Most High,
Was fiercely whipped and hung to die.
And O the horror of my sin,
Seen there in His appalling skin!
For God struck down- as meant for me-
The sinless One, at Calvary.

How precious is that day to me-
O day of purchased liberty!
In Him, a freeman now I live;
My sins, through death, did God forgive.
No wrath at length looms o'er my head,
But lovingkindness there instead.
His righteousness, my guilt replaced,
And Love, this ransomed soul embraced!

O awesome, savage, precious day-
'Tis God the Savior on display!
What peerless, holy, gracious Mind
Would fashion such a Grand Design?

By Kevin Hartnett, September 2001

For more poems by Kevin visit his website.

http://khartnettpoetry.typepad.com/kevin_hartnett_poetry/

http://www.joshharris.com/2010/04/awesome_savage_precious_day.php