Jesus Wept

The day that Jesus arrived in Jerusalem
The adventure almost over, the night he hadn't slept
Dreams and premonitions made him tired and emotional
And that's why Jesus wept

He wasn't scared of dying, he'd made that commitment
Fulfilling the old prophecy, his bargain he had kept
He was due some satisfaction, but he was deeply troubled
And that's why Jesus wept

Was this his true destiny, or could he still make changes
Someone else's nightmare into which he'd stepped?
Damage limitation couldn't save the situation
And that's why Jesus wept

In his dream he saw the crusade and all wars that would follow
Declared in his name when he thought he'd been direct
Love thy neighbour, do not kill, and turn the other cheek
And that's why Jesus wept

And he saw the inquisition and the burning of the saints
And the conversion of the innocents he swore he would protect
And he saw them bless the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima
And that's why Jesus wept

Though Peter would betray him, he made him the rock
On which he would build his church to sort of keep him in his debt
A man about to die is allowed some confusion
And that's why Jesus wept

And he thought of his disciples, especially of Judas
The job that was ordained for him and the reward he'd collect
And he saw him in the tree with silver coins around him
And that's why Jesus wept

Then he thought about the good times when he turned the tables over
Chastised the money lenders and he earned the boy's respect
He was proud of Godly anger, but ashamed of manly temper
And that's why Jesus wept

Rumours started flying about water into wine
Sight to the blind and that he'd even raised the dead
The biggest miracle was that anyone believed it
And that's why Jesus wept

Then he mused on human nature, how fickle were the public
So ready to accept him, so quick now to reject
Where were the five thousand he fed with loaves and fishes?
And that's why Jesus wept

In his dream he saw a garden with all his friends asleep
He walked away the hours until the morning crept
And he wondered would the nails hurt, would he be man enough?
And that's why Jesus wept

Was he supposed to bear it like a man or like a God
Would tears show a weakness or a strength by their effect?
Would they be viewed as compassion or failure and self-pity?
And that's why Jesus wept

Then he saw his houses burning on both sides of a border
Saw the guiltless suffer with the guilty and the rest
And when they called his name and he knew he couldn't help them
That's why Jesus wept

Then he saw two armies marching and he heard their crucifixes
Reduced to superstitious muted jangling round their necks
And he heard his name intoned as they interred their companion
And that's why Jesus wept

Then he thought about his mother and the stories she had told him
Who'd filled his dreams with angels, put voices in his head
Then the scent of pine trees made him think of dear old Joseph
That's why Jesus wept
That's why Jesus wept