Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
This Sunday morning I am planning to preach a sermon for Easter called “Were you there?” I cannot remember a time when I did not know this song. I am not even sure where or how I learned it. It seems like I have always known the words. In reality the song summarizes the Gospel story telling about the crucifixion, the nails piercing his hands, the burial in the tomb, and the resurrection from the God by the hand of God.
I happened upon a story in Christian History magazine entitled “Slave Songs Transcend Sorrow.” The article explains how songs, like Were you there?, helped the slaves to look beyond the circumstances.
What they did is explained:
Singly or by twos the black slaves slipped into the torch-lit forest grove. What they were doing was illegal. They could be whipped for it. But they had to sing, had to sing without restraint, had to pour out to God their souls’ deepest prayers, longings and complaints, regardless of consequences. With bodies swaying and eyes half-closed, they sang, lifting to heaven their anguish and triumph.
To read the article go here:
http://www.christianhistorytimeline.com/GLIMPSEF/Glimpses/glmps089.shtml
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