It had been several years, and Jerusalem tugged at my heart

We saved through the Fall; the next year was the plan for the start

We found a ship in the Spring and the wind from the West blew up fair

Carried us eastward to Joppa, and set us down there

After four days of walking, the city at last came to view

But the scene we were greeted with; well, we'd have run if we knew

There were soldiers and a crowd screamin' loud as they burst through the gate

By then there was nowhere to hide, so we just had to wait



My sons stood there with me watching the horror unfold

Three men carried crossbeams, their own crucifixions the goal

Then in spite of the whips, one fell from the weight of his load

Too weak to get up, on his knees in the dust of the road

Then a soldier yelled out, "Hey, you," and he was lookin' my way

"Get over here, carry this cross!" and I had to obey

They unbound the prisoner's arms and the wood came up free

I got down on me knees there beside him and they laid it on me



That instant was burned on my brain when he looked in my eyes

"Thankyou," was all that he said, and he started to rise

But deep in my soul, like a shore-breaking wave of the sea

I knew then that something from him had flowed into me

I walked close behind him for a few hudnred yards, but no more

To a place stained with blood from the hundreds of victims before

"Just drop it right here," I heard the centurion say

"Go on now, get out of here, just get out of the way."



I hadn't gone far when my feet just refused to go on

I wanted to flee, But instead I turned round and looked on

The other two screamed from the nails, loud as anyone could

But the man that I'd followed stayed silent as they drove through the wood

I wandered out loud who this strange, silent sufferer could be

When a man said, "That's Jesus, the prophet from Galilee

He was mighty in God; he was my teacher and friend

We called him Messiah, But now things have come to an end."



Then my sons came beside us and soon a small crowd stood apart

His family and those who had followed this man from the start

Through their grief and their tears they told of the wonders he'd done

How envy and hatred were murdering this innocent one

I lost track of time as darkness closed over us there

The sun disappeared, though there wasn't a cloud in the air

I heard his last words, though 'til now I did not understand

"It is finished; now, Father, my Spirit I place in your hands."



Only God can explain the connection that happened that day

The feast was in ruins, but still we decided to stay

Just doing whatever we could for the ones left behind

Feeding them, running their messages, easing their minds

It began Sunday morning when their women ran back in the room

Exclaiming that angels had rolled back the stone from the tomb

That Jesus was risen, that Mary had seen him alive

And Peter came too, and the man from Emmaus arrived

The excitement kept rising when suddenly Jesus appeared



But the power of his presence made everyone draw back in fear

He calmed us all down, and he showed us his hands and his side

Then he called me by name, gently he led me beside

He said, "Simon, you think that a soldier just picked you that day

But my Father has loved you and drawn you each step of the way

You carried that burden for me, though we'd never met

That bond is forever, my friend, I will never forget

Soon, I will leave you, but I will not leave you alone

My Spirit, the comforter, always will be with my own

I'll be making a place for the day when our joy knows no end

And forever, I will remember you are my friend

Both I and my Father call you forever 'my friend'."