Thursday, June 24, 2010

Extreme Epitaphs

"And Jesus said.... She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying.... this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests to betray Him unto them.... [Jesus] said unto them... Woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! Good were it for that man if he had never been born" (Mark 14:6-21).

Could epitaphs be more extreme
In good and evil so contrasting
As in this woman's praise supreme
And Judas' horror everlasting?

Our Savior spoke with satisfaction
Regarding what this woman did,
While others then maligned her action
Because her heart to them was hid.

Yet oh, that we might likewise hear
That we, like her, did all we could!
There is no epitaph as dear
Or tribute to a life so good!

And but for grace we surely know
Our epitaph would be as well
Like that of Judas in his woe,
Lamenting in eternal hell!

Lord, for us You gave Your all!
Why should we then give You half?
Lift us to the higher call
To hear that sweeter epitaph!

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