Two Roads

Part I
The road that runs through Bethlehem is dusty, hot and loud,
As Jesus makes his way among the busy, jostling crowd.
Beside him walks a donkey with his mother on its back;
Ahead of them his father leads them through the noisy pack.
On business for his father — now their business here is done.
They’re going home to Nazareth beneath the setting sun.
He glances to his right and sees, beyond an open door,
The humble place where he was born some fifteen years before.
His mother’s told him of that time what she had seen and heard:
How shepherds came and angels sang and all that had occurred.
He turns to see his mother as she wipes away a tear,
And gently takes her hand in his and whispers in her ear:
Weep not for me, dear mother, take my hand and hold it tight.
You know what I was born to do when I was born that night.
One day I’ll have to go away — you knew that from the start;
But I will always love you and I’ll keep you in my heart.

Part II
The road that leads to Calvary is dusty, hot and loud,
As Jesus makes His way among the hostile, jeering crowd.
He stumbles from the heavy cross that’s cradled on His back;
Yet knows that He could call a host of angels to attack.
On business for His Father — now His business here is done.
He’s going home to heaven as the good and faithful Son.
He glances up and sees, as He’s now struggling for each breath,
The place of skulls — Golgotha — where the sentenced meet their death.
His Father’s told Him what and when and how to do His will;
But now He lacks the strength to make it up this final hill.
Within the crowd He sees His mother wipe away her tears,
Oh, how He longs to hold her hands and whisper in her ears:
Weep not for Me, dear mother, take My hand and hold it tight.
You know that I was born to die to give this dark world light.
Today I have to go away — but know, before we part,
That I will always love you and I’ll keep you in My heart.

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