The Weight and Wonder of the Cross

Friends, read and listen to these lyrics to put Good Friday into its biblical and theological perspective.  Ask the Lord to allow the weight and wonder of the cross of Jesus Christ register deeply in your soul.  And when you come to the startling line at the end of verse two, read Isaiah 53:10 and Acts 2:23 and Acts 4:28, and bow in silence.

"Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

(Thomas Kelly, 1804)

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, see him dying on the tree!
‘Tis the Christ by man rejected; yes, my soul, ’tis he, ’tis he!
‘Tis the long expected Prophet, David’s son, yet David’s Lord;
By his Son God now has spoken: ’tis the true and faithful Word.

Tell me ye who hear him groaning, was there ever grief like his?
Friends thro’ fear his cause disowning, foes insulting his distress;
Many hands were raised to wound him, none would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced him was the stroke that Justice gave.

Ye who think of sin by lightly nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly, here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed, see who bears the awful load;
‘Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed, Son of Man and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation, here the refuge of the lost;
Christ’s the Rock of our salvation, his the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded, sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded who on him their hope have built.