Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Triumphantly entering Jerusalem ahead of the Jewish Passover, on what we term “Palm Sunday”, the people hail Jesus as “king”. Yet no one, not even Jesus’ disciples, despite Jesus plainly telling them, understood He entered as the sacrificial Passover Lamb. Curiously, though this week held much activity for Christ, the Gospels record no activity on Wednesday of the week. While no doubt Jesus continued preparations for what He knew lay ahead, the bible prefers instead to offer a “pause” for us.
With that in mind, for my Holy Week Wednesday post, let us prepare for what we know lies ahead. One way to prepare our hearts for Jesus’ crucifixion is praying through the biblical stations of the cross, another is placing ourselves in the story. When was the last time you walked through the timeline of events the last week of Christ’s earthly ministry as a participant? Set aside some time to immerse yourself in the story through reading the account in your Bible, the verses, videos, poetry and worship below, deeply connecting with Christ in His last hours on earth.
my lord, a man of sorrows
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”
Isaiah 53:3-9
were you there when he foretold his suffering?
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Romans 5:6-10
o heart behold my lord, crucified for thee
Good Friday
Be hushed, my heart, remembering
What dole was given for thee,
How pressed on Him thy burden, when,
For all the sinful sons of men,
Christ went to Calvary.
The mournful journey that He made.
Each step was taken for thee.
Be hushed, my heart, let clamor cease
Prepare a chamber white with peace,
His resting-place to be.
In solemn shadow of the cross,
O soul, abide till He
Who tasted death ere thou shouldst know
Its bitterness of utmost woe
With strength shall guerdon thee.
Its Via Dolorosa still
Each life of earth must see,
And in some hour, or soon or late,
Must bend beneath the crushing weight
Of earth’s Gethsemane.
Margaret Elizabeth Munson Sangster
were you there when they crucified my lord?
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 2:24
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 Peter 3:18
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Karen Friday says
What a powerful post and beautiful poem, Donna. You are gifted. Happy Resurrection Day!
Donna says
Thank you Karen for your kind words and for taking the time to stop by! Wishing you Abundant blessings in the Lord!
Tea With Jennifer says
Touching poem Donna, I hope you have a wondrous time this Easter.
Blessings to you & your family,
Jennifer
Donna says
Thank you, Jennifer, Easter blessings to you and your family!!
AnnMarie says
Beautiful verses and thoughts for my Good Friday…. thank you!
Donna says
AnnMarie, thank you for stopping by to check out my post! Blessings to you on this special weekend!
Lisa Blair says
Donna, thank you for this holy pause and reflection.
Donna says
Lisa, I’m so pleased it blessed you!
Carol says
Wonderful scripture verses and hymns for this week! Last Sunday I was blessed by verses from the hymn, Who Is He in Yonder Stall.
Who is He who stands and weeps, at the grave where Lazarus sleeps?
Who is He the gath’ring throng greet with loud triumphant song?
Lo! at midnight, Who is He prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree dies in grief and agony?
Tis the Lord! Oh, wondrous story! Tis the Lord! the King of Glory!
At His feet we humbly fall, Crown Him! Crown Him, Lord of all!
Donna says
Carol, what a beautiful hymn, the words truly touch my heart, thank you so much for sharing!
Paula Short says
Amen Donna, thank you for this beloved lesson, so wonderfully spoken. I love these songs you shared. Blessings to you.
Donna says
Blessings to you, Dear Friend! Thank you for reading, and taking the time to comment. Wishing you a truly Blessed and joy-filled Resurrection Sunday!
Joanne Viola says
Donna, I have been listening to “Behold the Lamb” for several days and in fact, included it in my post for tomorrow 🙂 I was blessed to listen to each video this afternoon!
Donna says
Joanne, I will look forward to your post! I rejoice in your finding the videos such a blessing!