Tag: When I survey the wondrous cross

Tuesday 11th November 2025

“Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.” Luke 22:54-56 NIV

“Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” 5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.” Mark 15:1-5 NIV

“Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” Mark 15:15 NIV

“Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.” Matthew 27:27-31 NIV

Father,

Reading through the Bible, I have reached Jesus arrest, betrayal, abandonment and suffering on the day we give thanks and remember all those who died in two world wars and on active service. They changed history fighting on land, sea and in the air. And I am grateful and thankful to You that You helped them. But Jesus changed history. We celebrate Easter all nice and happy and family. Do we Celebrate false trial, torture and termination.? Better to pass over quickly the gory parts and celebrate the resurrection.

We do sing in lots of songs about your death but we prefer to put an ‘l’ in it and change the gory to glory. Not glory in the gruesomeness but glory in Your victory for us. That is not wrong. Bit it is to our shame that man put You to death and You had to suffer horrendously before it came.

You do know our suffering. Not being able to end the pain of those who loved You, standing around the cross. Your earthly family and friends. While undergoing such physical pain. You know what it is to hope those left behind will be faithful and find hope and a future. What it is to not be able to solve everything in the here and now.

It is good to pause and see what happened between the garden of Gethsemane and the crucifixion. Jesus character, revealing You, our God. A God who would suffer for our sin, Remain silent in the face of lies, Knowing the truth was not believed. Willing to suffer on our behalf when even His own disciples deserted Him.

We know by the news of today that mankind has not changed. War, cruelty and greed. And yet, and yet neither have You. You still seek out the sinner wanting a Saviour. You still accept back those who have denied You. You still forgive the dying thief who asks You to remember him. And You still love me just as I am. It is a wonder, amazing and overwhelming.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Tuesday 11th November 2024
For me the traditional melody fits the words perfectly. It does not rush or go to slow and the words and harmonies touch the heart as they should. With a resounding last verse . . .

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count as loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ my God:
the very things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down:
when did such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all!

Lyrics: Isaac Watts


Good Friday 29th March 2024

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 because the sun’s light failed. The temple curtain was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And after he said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee saw these things.” Luke 23:44-49 NET

Father,

We read these scriptures every year in the Easter season and many other times too. Yet Your Word always comes with fresh inspiration and awe. Noon till 3 pm – darkness. I remember dark stormy days. But this one was different, supernatural dark. All sunlight failed . . . It was not a solar eclipse. Not ten minutes not even an hour. Three hours. And it ended the moment You died on the cross.

The curtain of the temple was torn in two. A massive curtain, 60 feet high, 30 feet wide, woven and extremely thick. Bigger than any theatre curtain and bigger than any I can imagine. This curtain kept the holy place in the Temple, holy, private. One priest entered once a year and only after many, many animal sacrifices for sin. The Temple curtain was not a symbolic veil, it could not be torn by human hand, it did not fall by accident. The curtain was rent in two.

Three hours while Jesus went through agony. Yet He listening with compassion to the other two men crucified with him. Hearing ones confession and granting Him forgiveness. Jesus went through every human emotion and pain. And being separated even from You, God. He understands our humanity, trauma and pain.

Even the crowd went home beating their breasts in the dark. Those who knew him stayed at a distance. Waiting, grief stricken. Help us to worship and realise that because of what Jesus went through we will never have to go through that darkness.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father,

For our family, friends and neighbours. For Your light to dawn upon them.
For our nation, to retain the foundation of Your law of justice and mercy.
For there to be a respect for life in this nation and the world.
For Your light to show up darkness and bring healing and rescue to those imprisoned by addiction, evil thoughts and actions and depression.
For Ukraine, Gaze, Sudan, Myanmar places of conflict. Your light to lead to a way of peace.
For us to consider the darkness You went through to better understand the cost of our light of life.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 29th March 2024

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count as loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ my God:
the very things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down:
when did such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all!

Lyrics: Isaac Watts



Friday 22nd March 2024

“Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 NET

“Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.” Romans 13:14 NET

God of peace,

It’s the unpredictable things that push out my peace and usher in annoyance, self sympathy and impatience, Father God. Like the washer breaking down (never when it is empty of water), breaking a glass on the kitchen tap, stubbing my toe . . . walking mud in from the garden, dribbling lunch down a clean jumper. And those jumper stains remind me that I am not just grubby without but easily daily stained with sin within.

How wonderful it was to put on the Lord Jesus Christ that first time and Know I was forgiven, cleansed through and through, inside and out. Robed in His pure clean holiness. A robe of humility, compassion, gentleness, patience and kindness and divine shining holiness. Restored to peace and well being in place of our earthly annoyances and irritation.

We are grateful that, but we need You to keep us clean. The times when we loose it a little or a lot, You, Lord restore us. We are re-laundered inside and out. Remind us on this lent walk, towards the cross, that it cost You everything and us nothing. You give and give again and again. Thank You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of peace,

For our family, friends and neighbours. Hold them. Help them in their joys and pains.
For those we have difficulties with. Help us not to exasperate the situation even if we are right.
For our church family, Ministers and church leadership. Keep the way forward true and good.
For the Royal family. Their health. To have some privacy along with their public duties.
For our government. House of commons, House of Lords, civil servants. You sort and guide.
For our nearest towns and cities and city centres. For employment, development and growth.
For schools in the busy week before the holidays. That Easter would be explained to them.
For those on the front line in the NHS and police. Ambulance crew, rapid response, air ambulance.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Deal with Putin as with Pharaoh so he will let the people go.
For a solution for Gaza and peace and healing and a way to rebuild relationships and homes.
For countries where there is conflict, oppression or famine – be their providers and support.
For all the church volunteers serving their communities and neighbours.
For us to know Your peace of forgiveness, to feel renewed, as we wash and put on clean clothes.
For a good day with good thoughts and feeling to follow.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 22nd March 2024
At the time of Watts’ birth (1674), churches in England sang only metrical psalms. But by the time of his death (1748), he had planted the seeds of a much more complex hymnody. His 600 hymns found in seven collections made the transition from a rigid, metrical psalmody to a freer, theologically-based hymnody.
Wonderful worship.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Lyrics: Isaac Watts