The Death of Christ (Ode to the Cross)
基督之死【十架頌】 || The Death of Christ (Ode to the Cross)
By John Lee
康熙 (Emperor Kangxi) was the 3rd emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Through the preaching of western missionaries, he became familiar with the Bible and church history. He wrote many Christian-themed couplets and poems. One of these was titled “The Death of Christ” (a.k.a. “Ode to the Cross”). In beautiful Chinese poetic form (七言律诗), it superbly evokes the emotions connected with Good Friday. Here is the poem:
功成十架血成溪，百丈恩流分自西。
身列四衙半夜路，徒方三背兩番雞。
五千鞭韃寸膚裂，六尺懸垂二盜齊。
慘慟八垓驚九品，七言一畢萬靈啼。
The Poem Line by Line
1) 功成十架血成溪，百丈恩流分自西。
Translation: Christ’s mission was accomplished with a rivulet of blood streaming from the Cross. The immeasurable grace of God spread from the west in all directions.
Emperor Kangxi acknowledged the grace message of the Cross coming from Jerusalem (i.e., geographically in the west from where missionaries came).
The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18) It is the message of God’s immeasurable grace by which all are justified freely through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus whom God presented as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith. (Rom 3:24-25)
2) 身列四衙半夜路，徒方三背兩番雞。
Translation: He was shuffled between four courts in the middle of the night, thrice denied by his disciple before the rooster crowed twice.
Jesus was first brought to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. (John 18:13) Then Annas sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest. (John 18:24) Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of Pilate, the Roman governor. (John 18:28) Pilate sent Jesus to Herod. (Luke 23:7) Then Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. (Luke 23:11)
Why the shuffling (shifting of responsibility) from court to court? It seemed that the four (Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod) all felt that pronouncing guilt on Jesus was too great a personal responsibility to bear. In fact, both Pilate and Herod declared Jesus innocent and not deserving death. (Luke 23:15) While in human perspective the crucifixion of Jesus was the vengeful demand of his enemies, it was all part of the eternal plan of God. (Mk 8:31)
Even Peter’s denial of Jesus fulfilled prophecy (Mk 14:30, 72).
3) 五千鞭韃寸膚裂，六尺懸垂二盜齊。
Translation: He was scourged with countless lashes, every inch of his skin ripped, hung on the Cross with two bandits by his sides.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isa 53:5)
“Pierced” and “crushed” are strong verbs that reflect the severity of the torture that Jesus went through along via dolorosa and on the Cross.
“Because the Servant paid the full penalty incurred by the sin of the world, His days did not end in death. By dying and rising again, He became the source of life to spiritual offspring without number (1Pt 1:3–4, 23; 1Jn 5:1).” – TLSB
4) 慘慟八垓驚九品，七言一畢萬靈啼。
Translation: People on all levels shocked and grieved by the unspeakable suffering, thousands of souls wept with the last of his seven cries from the Cross.
The 1st cry (Intercession for enemies): “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34)
The 2nd cry (Assurance of salvation for the believer): “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
The 3rd cry (Jesus entrusting his mother to John’s care): Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” (John 19:26-27)
The 4th cry (Jesus quotes from Ps 22:1): About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). (Mt 27:46)
The 5th cry: Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28) (Cf Ps 22:15)
The 6th cry: Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46)
The 7th cry: When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30). With the death of Christ, after His 7th and final cry from the Cross, momentous events happened. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open… (Mt 27:51-53)
Even the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus confessed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Mt 27:54)
Death Not the End
The sorrow of Good Friday will turn to joy on the third day with the Lord’s resurrection.
All who believe in Jesus have eternal life. Even the criminal on his cross beside Jesus was assured of salvation because he believed.
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