THEIR faces to Jerusalem, They stepped with laggard feet, Half timorous, defiant half, At what they went to meet. But as they rested, or they talked Their sad forebodings o'er, Still leading on the little band, Their Master went before. He saw in vision maddened throngs; He saw the crowded hall Where scribe and priest should mock and flout. Where cruel scourge should fall; He saw the cross; its shadows lay The toilsome pathway o'er; But, pressing on with ardent soul, The Master went before. To-day Thy pledged disciples, Lord, Meet sorrow, pain, and shame, Their watchword in the trial time Thine own all-conquering name. Though flesh be weak, and spirit faint, And heart be spent and sore, They cannot fail in any strife While Thou shalt go before. In presence of Thy bitter foes, In midst of dark defeat, They yet shall snatch a victory And taste a triumph sweet; Nor death itself shall crush them, Lord. Its final conflict o'er, The ransomed hosts shall shout and sing, "Our Master went before!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: RICHARD BONE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE MEANING OF THE LOOK by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE WILD DUCK'S NEST by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH THE PLEASURES OF IMAGINATION; A POEM. ENLARGED VERSION: BOOK 1 by MARK AKENSIDE A WOMAN'S APOLOGY by ALFRED AUSTIN THE LIVING BOOK by CHARLOTTE FISKE BATES |