Archives article 41

The American “Spirituals” of the slaves are so “right” for today,

Easter 2011, too!

 

“Where you there when they crucified my Lord”

 

Not only Good Friday . . . but also Easter Sunday

Isn’t it marvellous the way this old Spiritual from the cotton fields of north American in the 1800’s captures the reality, even for today, of the Gospel for everyone of us!

 

“Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (x2)

Oh, sometimes it cause me to tremble, tremble, tremble,

were you there when they crucified my Lord?

 

2. Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

 

3. Were you there when they pierced Him in the side?

 

4. Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

 

5. Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

 

6. Were you there when the rolled away the stone?

 

7. Did you know He is risen from the dead?

Oh, sing glory, glory, glory!

Did you know He is risen from the dead?

 

Jesus our Lord didn’t just ‘die’ . . . He also rose triumphantly! There is what we call “Good Friday” but there is also a “Resurrection Sunday”! The tomb stands dark and empty. The sin for which Jesus came to save us is defeated. Although only black slaves were traded and sold on markets like second hand cars, they knew that Jesus was their treasure and so they asked: “Were you there too?”

 

The Spirituals weren’t solos . . . they were for everyone!

 

Black music wasn’t born in churches but in the fields where everyone took part. Even those who didn’t believe. And the question, perhaps sung by a ‘caller’, invited a response from everyone around.

 

The Spirituals were a personal witness . . . it wasn’t just to ‘the’ Lord, but to

‘my’ Lord

 

That’s also one of the reasons why, when we sing them today, while the rich throbbing melody captures the emotions, the words reach deeply into the head and the heart asking just what is our answer? Were we there when all of these dramatic events took place?

 

Was the Cross of Christ just to become a story to be told to children in nursery school or a place where even today, we can kneel and with thanks receive Jesus as our Saviour?

 

Dear reader, may this Easter 2011 be filled with joy for the death and resurrection of Jesus. “Did you know He is risen from the dead?

We can sing “glory” 3 times – we are free . . . just as the black slaves were in their hearts!

 

Pastor Paul Finch