Written Before the Cross

Intro - Deep male spoken, warm Rhodes, low brass

Before the nails... Before the hill... The words were already on the page. Listen to the Scriptures answer one another.

Verse 1 - Male, rhythmic soulful storytelling

Psalm twenty-two, hear a sufferer's cry, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" rising to the sky. Now Matthew twenty-seven, Jesus speaks that ancient line, And the words of David echo through another point in time. The psalm describes the mockers, shaking heads in scorn, "Let his God deliver him," while they laugh at one forlorn. The leaders spoke that taunt as He hung upon the tree, The parallels are written there for anyone to see. They divided up His garments, cast the lots to claim, John nineteen points us backward, where the psalm had said the same. But read beyond the suffering, there's worship past the pain, From a cry of deep affliction to the nations praising His name.

Chorus - Soulful female, bass drops in, triumphant trombones

Before the cross, before the nails, The ancient words had told the tale. The cry, the cloth, the wounded One, The story wasn't just begun. From David's song to Calvary, The pages speak across the centuries. Oh, open up the Word and see, One unfolding mystery.

Verse 2 - Male, steady boom-bap, brass replies

Isaiah fifty-three, a servant pushed aside, Despised and unrecognized, acquainted with our grief and strife. Pierced for our transgressions, the punishment for peace, He carried what was ours, that our bondage might release. Silent like a lamb before the ones who sought His life, Now see Him stand before the governor, accused without a fight. Counted with transgressors, though no deceit was in His ways, Then a wealthy man named Joseph laid His body in a grave. Isaiah spoke of suffering, but the servant's work would stand, His life an offering for sin, according to God's plan. Acts chapter eight, a traveler reads that ancient prophecy, Philip starts with that same passage and declares the Christ he'd seen.

Chorus - Female, brighter horns, layered gospel harmonies

Before the cross, before the nails, The ancient words had told the tale. The cry, the cloth, the wounded One, The story wasn't just begun. From David's song to Calvary, The pages speak across the centuries. Oh, open up the Word and see, One unfolding mystery.

Verse 3 - Male, confident groove, trombone accents

Zechariah thirteen: strike the shepherd, sheep will scatter, Jesus spoke those words before the night His friends would scatter. Zechariah twelve: they would look upon the pierced, John nineteen recalls the words when the soldier raised his spear. Back in Exodus at Passover, no broken bones were found, John says Jesus' legs were spared while the others fell around. The Passover, the suffering servant, now the meaning comes in view, Christ our Lamb was sacrificed, as Paul would later teach it too. And Isaiah's words were copied long before the Savior came, An ancient scroll preserved a text that still remains today. Some were words the Gospels quoted, others patterns they revealed, And the One who bore our sorrow rose victorious from the grave.

Bridge - Female spoken-sung, Rhodes and soft trombone

David sang of suffering... Isaiah saw the servant... Zechariah spoke of piercing... And the Gospels showed us Jesus.

Instrumental Break - 4 bars, walking bass, rhythmic trombone and trumpet

Final Chorus - Female, uplifting gospel harmonies, full brass

Before the cross, before the nails, The ancient words had told the tale. The cry, the cloth, the wounded One, The story wasn't just begun. From David's song to Calvary, The pages speak across the centuries. Oh, open up the Word and see, One unfolding mystery.

Outro - Deep male spoken, drums fade, Rhodes remains

Psalm twenty-two. Isaiah fifty-three. Zechariah twelve and thirteen. Exodus twelve. Matthew twenty-seven. John nineteen. Different centuries. One unfolding story.