I Followed a Man

I followed
As a donkey carried a man
Along a coat strewn road to Jerusalem

I followed people
As they pushed and jostled
One another towards Jerusalem

I followed people surging
As they shouted “Hosanna”
Along the triumphant road to Jerusalem

I followed people surging through city streets
As they argued about the man
Who’d led them to Jerusalem

I followed people surging through city streets clamouring
As, at dead of night, they searched
For the man now condemned in Jerusalem

I followed people surging through city streets clamouring to watch
As they mocked and then stripped him
For crucifixion outside Jerusalem

I followed people surging through city streets clamouring to watch the end
As the blood flowed and the life ebbed
From that man on the cross near Jerusalem.

I followed people surging through city streets clamouring to watch the end of his life
As, surrendering all to his God,
That man called Jesus died.

I followed
As people dispersed, both arguing and tearful
And we retraced our steps to Jerusalem

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Why did I follow? Why followed that man
As he agonised slowly through death?
I didn’t know him and he couldn’t know me,
A curious face in a crowd.

Yet as Jesus died,
As tears filled my eyes,
His eyes followed me from his cross
And as they met mine, I saw the divine and
I knew why I’d followed this man.