Notes on the Notes – April 19, 2019

Good Friday

John 18:1-19:42

Today’s music has been chosen to enhance the Passion narrative of Jesus’ journey to the cross.

“Beneath the Cross of Jesus” (VU # 135)

“Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand:
The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land,
A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noon-tide heat and the burden of the day.

Upon the cross of Jesus my eyes at times can see
The very dying form of one who suffered there for me;
And from my  smitten heart, with tears, two wonders I confess,
The wonder of his glorious love, and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, your shadow for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of his face,
Content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all, the cross.”

Words:  Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane(1868)
Music: Frederick Charles Maker (1881)

“Shadows Gather, Deep and Cold” (VU #134)

“Shadows gather, deep and cold;
Lamplight flickers, fades and fails.
Lord, you know what daybreak holds:
Thorns and beatings, cross and nails.
You will be denied, betrayed
When the rooster wakes the sun.
Yet you kneel alone and pray,
“Not my will, but thine be done.”

In the watches of the night;
In the hour when darkness reigns,
In the grief that has no light,
In the time of fear and pain,
Then we hold fast to your way,
To the victory you have won.
Jesus, teach us how to pray,
“Not my will, but thine be done.”

Words: Sylvia Dunstan (1992)
Music: David Kai (1994)

“Why Did It Have to Come to This?”

“Why did it have to come to this?
A mission ended by a kiss.
The One whose power could be complete,
Instead takes towel and washes feet.
The Christ that even winds obey,
But could not angry masses sway.
And still he knew what lay ahead:
An outcome others would have fled.

What countless saviours we’ve forgot,
But one that’s crucified is not.
Why do we need a death to save the Word for rescue from the grave?
God does not want this sacrifice;
To turn from hatred would suffice;
If ways of peace we would disdain,
Then we betray our Lord again.

It may have not been Judas’ plan to cruelly put to death this man.
Perhaps he sought to force his hand;
Messiahs must rule by command!
We look to might to solve our woes and reign triumphant over foes.
But God would want a different end: not king or majesty, but friend.”

Words and Music:  Allan Baer (2006 & 2013)

“Bitter Was the Night” (VU #132)

“Bitter was the night,
Thought the cock would crow for ever.
Bitter was the night,
Before the break of day.”

Words and Music: Sydney Carter (1964)

“Go to Dark Gethsemene” (VU #133)

“Go to dark Gethsemane, you that feel the tempter’s power;
Your Redeemer’s conflict see; watch with him one bitter hour;
Turn not from his grief away, learn from him to watch and pray.

See him at the judgement hall, beaten, bound, reviled, arraigned;
See him meekly bearing all; love to all his soul sustained.
Shun not suffering, shame, or loss; learn from Christ to bear the cross.

Calvary’s mournful mountain view; there the Lord of glory see,
Made a sacrifice for you, dying on the accursed tree.
“It is finished,” hear his cry; trust in Christ and learn to die.””

Words: James Montgomery (1820).
Music: Richard Redhead (1853).

“Shadows of the Night”

“In the shadows of the night as I followed them in fear,
My heart was filled with anguish, and my eyes were filled with tears.
Helpless and alone, all my dreams had taken flight.
I watched as they mocked my Saviour in the shadows of the night.

My God, and my King, Redeemer, Teacher, Friend!
In silence he stood; surely this was not the end!
“A kingdom built on love, not by power nor by might.”
God’s message became clear to me in the shadows of the night.

Your kingdom come! O Lord, hear my prayer.
Shine through the clouds that threaten everywhere.
Light from above, restore my hope, my joy,
Grant me a peace that nothing can destroy;
Grant me a peace that nothing can destroy.

“A kingdom built on love, not by power nor by might.”
God’s message became clear to me in the shadows of the night.

Words and Music: Margaret R. Seeback and Lloyd Larson (2003).

“O Come and Mourn with Me Awhile”

“O come and mourn with me awhile;
All ye now come to the Saviour’s side;
Come see the One who frees us all;
The Lord of Life is crucified.

Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and foes deride?
Upon the cross He bears the pain,
The Lord of Life is crucified.

Seven times He speaks,
Seven words of love;
His silence too cries out to all.
His words of love our hearts receive,
The Lord of Life is crucified.

O Love of God, O sin of all,
In this dread hour true strength is found.
It is with love we triumph still.
The Lord of Life is crucified.

O come and mourn with me awhile;
The Lord of Life is crucified.”

Words: Frederick William Faber
Music: Early American Fold Tune arranged by Hal Hopson (1977)

“The Love That Clothes Itself in Light “ (VU #137 – v. 3-5)

“Love, helpless, comes to Calvary,
Rejected, scorned and crucified;
Love hangs in shame, and dies alone;
But Love abased, is glorified.

Extinguished with the sun at noon,
Love’s light transcends all history;
Love, wrapped in linen, Love entombed,
Still wraps all heaven in mystery.

Though Love is lost, Love finds us here;
Though Love is absent, Love remains;
Where Love is finished, Love begins;
Where Love is dead, Love lives and reigns!”

Words: Alan Gaunt (1989)
Music: John Bacchus Dykes (1861)

“Be Still and Know”

“Be still and know that I am God.”

Words and Music: arr. Jack Schrader (1988)

To ponder:  

What ending did you dread that turned into something better than you could have imagined?