If We Had Been There (A very relevant thought for today)

286 If We Had Been There

Minister: If we had been Jews, would we have spoken out for Him when the Sanhedrin accused Him of blasphemy?
      If we had been Gentiles, would we have defended Him when the Romans condemned Him to death?
      If we had been disciples, would we have stayed with Him when the crowd became a crucifying mob?
      Or would we have been like Peter-
      who followed Him and loved Him
      and denied Him three times before the dawn?

Choir: Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
      O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Minister: And the Christ who was crucified there, once said.
      “As you have done it to the least of these, My brothers, you have done it unto Me.”
      As nations rise in war
      As governments oppress the poor
      As passive people turn and look aside
      In silence
      We crucify.
      Again-
      We crucify.

People : As indifference forms the pattern of our lives,
      As hungry children cry for food,
      As widows mourn alone in empty rooms,
      In apathy-
      We crucify.
      Again-
      We crucify.

Choir: Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
      O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Minister: I think of the nails that crucified my Lord.
      They were made of iron,’ but more-
      They were made of hatred, prejudice and greed.
      And I wonder-
      What part of myself is found in the shadow of that mob that stretches down through history?
      What part of myself creates nails in other forms that wound my brother—and my Lord?

People: You know how many times I have betrayed You, Lord.
      You know the times lhave chosen evil over good.
      Guilt lies upon me like an iron cloak.
      My soul is heavy—my burden hard.

Choir: Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
      O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Minister: In the act of death He absorbs our sins.
      In love, He forgives our failures.
      In the act of resurrection He gives the promise of acceptance, the assurance of forgiveness, the affirmation of eternal life.
      “Your sins are forgiven you”, He said, “Go and sin no more. ”

People: Through Your love, I am made whole,
      Through Your death, I have found new life.
      You are my shield, my redeemer and my hope.
      My sins are forgiven—Hallelujah!
                         —MariIee Zdenek
                         Hymns for the Family of God