A Roman-decreed cross was the fate which Jesus met
Because of loving humanity, life-giving blood was let

Wooden cross as a symbol of his mission here on Earth
A painful death gave his teaching compassionate worth

Scholarly agreement is supportive of a cross-hung death
A divine-like human on Earth who drew a mortal’s breath

The cross seen in varied ways among noted academics
Talk continues in scholarly circles via all the polemics

Cross’s meaning as consensus or in a more personal way
Tolerance for diversity of meaning found even to this day

Like the Rorschach ink-blot test of what a person may see
Blot interpretation as common or unique — it’s up to me!

Not strictly atonement, substitution, or dying for our sin
Depth of meaning far deeper, for that’s truly where we win

Verse by Randall Wehler, 2016