The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ were remembered and celebrated a little earlier this year. Passover, the very day that Christ died, does not occur until late April this year. So, for me, that means that I get to remember these glorious events later this month as well.
I don't need a special holiday to remember these events, but a holiday definitely makes it more meaningful. God designed certain holidays, holy days, to help us remember things. Every year, it seems like something stands out to me in a new or more profound way. This year has been the same.
I know the story so well. I've heard it since I was two or three years old. Many hymns are just as familiar to me as the glorious "old, old story". And each year, certain songs often stand out to me in a more meaningful way, just like different aspects of the story.
This past weekend, a certain hymn was on my mind. I'd heard this hymn with a lesser known tune, a gorgeous one, in a minor key.
I could hear the tune so clearly in my head, and I even sat down behind my large harp, broken finger and all, to play the lovely melody.
But where did I hear these words?
"He died for you, He died for me,
And shed His blood to make us free."
After doing some research online, I discovered this lovely melody is called "KINGSFOLD" in hymnals. Many hymns can be sung to this melody. (commonly sung to the hymn "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say") I was pleased to trace down the name of this old English melody. Click here to hear this gorgeous melody played on the violin. This tune is just as beautiful on the harp.
But those words. Where did I hear them? And with this melody? I wondered.
After more research, as well as trying to locate the hymn on a CD, I was thrilled to finally find it.
"O Love Divine" by Fanny Crosby. Below are the original lyrics. The words were altered slightly to fit the melody I mentioned above.
That brought to earth from heaven above,
The Son of God, for us to die,
That we might dwell with Him on high.
For us the crown of thorns He bore;
For us the robe of scorn He wore;
He conquered death, and rent the grave,
And lives again our souls to save.
O wanderer, come, on Him believe,
His offered grace by faith receive;
Awake, arise, and hear Him call,
The feast is spread, there's room for all.
Chorus:
He died for you, He died for me,
And shed His blood to make us free;
Upon the cross of Calvary,
The Savior died for you and me.
He died for you, He died for me,
And shed His blood to make us free;
Upon the cross of Calvary,
The Savior died for you and me.
~ Fanny Crosby
Simple yet profound truth is found in lyrics like these. And when wedded with a gorgeous melody, it cannot help but move you to appreciate Christ's sacrifice. I played this on my large harp and my small harp this past weekend.
 |
| Beautiful, pink Lantana flowers outside the Garden Tomb in Israel. Photo from and courtesy of the Garden Tomb, Jerusalem, Israel |
The blood of Christ, mentioned in this hymn, was on my mind this past weekend. Without the shed blood of Christ, we would be lost. Without the shed blood of Christ, there would be no atonement for our sin. Hallelujah for the blood!
The shed blood of Christ has been on my mind a lot lately. During a recent conversation with my mom, certain verses from God's Word were mentioned. Those verses say:
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body,
and in your spirit, which are God's."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
 |
| Beautiful, orange Lantana flowers inside the grounds of the Garden Tomb. Photo from and courtesy of the Garden Tomb, Jerusalem, Israel |
If you are a born again Christian, like I am, God's Word says that we have been bought with a price.
Such a deep and powerful thought, so much so, God's Word says that we are not our own. We belong to another. Christians belong to Christ.
Like anyone who is married, true Christians are wedded to Christ. We are not our own.
That thought brings such enormous comfort to my heart yet such responsibility at the same time.
I am to represent Christ in every aspect of my life. I am His. I have been purchased with His blood.
 |
| Olive trees inside the grounds of the Garden Tomb. Photo from and courtesy of the Garden Tomb, Jerusalem, Israel |
Every year, I enjoy celebrating Passover in remembrance of Christ. I am not Jewish, but I enjoy celebrating Passover just as Jesus did with His disciples the night before He died.
“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”
Luke 22:19
Jesus said to do what in remembrance of Him? Communion? No.
Jesus said to keep Passover, each year, in remembrance of Him. Jesus was keeping the Passover with His disciples in these verses.
Remembering and keeping the Passover each year is doing it God’s way. That is how we remember, in the best way, Christ’s sacrifice for us. Yes, even for Christians. The entire thing points to Christ.
I’ve heard some say that Christians don’t need to remember the Biblical holidays because Christ is the fulfillment of them all. Indeed He is. And that is exactly why I like to celebrate them.
That would be like someone saying they don’t need to celebrate their child’s birthday because it is all about their child, not the day they were born.
I would say - that is exactly why you celebrate your child’s birthday. It is to remember them and how special they are.
Passover is God’s idea, not man’s idea. God told His people to remember it forever. (Exodus 12:24) Passover points to Christ and to His sacrifice for us. It is a joy to celebrate it and to remember each year, just as the Lord Jesus did with His disciples.
This Passover, I will be thinking of this profound thought - I have been bought with a price.
I have been purchased, paid for, with the blood of Christ. I am not my own. I belong to Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:15 says it well:
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
 |
| Another photo of the outside of the empty tomb. Photo from and courtesy of the Garden Tomb, Jerusalem, Israel |
No comments:
Post a Comment