Words of Light and Hope from Tony Hawes

Holy Week

During Holy Week, in my youth, our church choir often performed Stainer’s “Crucifixion”. Our Vicar, Aubrey Aitken (later to become Bishop of Lynn) had a beautiful bass voice and always sang the part of Jesus. I have never forgotten the experience.
Here are some of the words I remember……

As Jesus rode along, people kept spreading their
cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching
the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole
multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully
with a loud voice for all the deeds of power they had seen.

Fling wide the gates! Fling wide the gates!
For the Saviour waits, to tread in His royal way;
He has come from above, in His power and love
To die on this Passion day.

And they came to a place called Gethsemane, and
Jesus saith to His disciples: “Sit ye here, while I shall pray.”

Could ye not watch with Me one brief hour?
Could ye not pity My sorest need?
Ah! if ye sleep while the tempests lower,
surely, My friends, I am alone indeed.

And when they had come to the place called Calvary,
there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on
the right, and the other on the left.

God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son
into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through Him might be saved.

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now
accomplished, saith, “It is finished. Father into Thy
hands I commend my spirit.”

All for Jesus – Thou wilt give us
Strength to serve Thee, hour by hour;
None can move us from Thy presence,
While we trust Thy love and power.
Amen.

April 3, 2023