1 He touched the ones that others would despise, he lifted up the poor to help them rise, he stemmed the hypocrites within their pride and drew the little children to his side.
2 He stopped the ones who'd stone a woman dead, then offered care, forgiving her instead. He called his friend once buried in a cave, he promised love would live beyond the grave.
3 He poured himself in love to all the earth, a sacrifice of grace affirmed our worth, and now this simple sacrifice is all we need to make to follow at God's call.
Matthew 10: 40-42 speaks of how we should welcome people. This hymn questions whether the church mirrors this example, and for ‘church’ you can think of a congregation, a parish, a circuit – buildings or people - or even a denomination…
How can God, condemned, be hanging? –the test of all that deserves to be called Christian… (See Jurgen Moltmann The Crucified God)
How can God, condemned, be hanging? False messiahs meet such ends, and the ones then testifying, have no need to make amends. Educated folk were laughing, they foresaw what was to come, saw disciples hiding, crying, feeling both distraught and numb.
But that early Easter morning brought another scene to bear, Jesus mission had not ended, he was risen, standing there. Still the story, more than foolish soon gave rise to talk and doubt. ‘Surely God could never suffer?’ taunting people tease and shout.
Signs and wisdom are confounded by that stumbling block, the cross. Things that we once saw as wisdom now dismissed as foolish dross. God had shown such strength in weakness. Those who shared Christ’s dying breath now at last could claim dominion, love defeating hate and death.
This is the day when we confess our faith, dependant on our God and God’s good grace, we seek to take our cross, to follow Christ, while seeing Christ in one another’s face.
This is the time, there is no turning back, companion God you stand beside us still, walk with us through life’s twisting, winding way, and keep us always faithful to your will.
Help us to break your bread of life, then share; lift up the cup of blessing, drink your wine; when rising from this table go in peace, our life and living be a gracious sign.
And so we stand to offer up our lives, not just a verbal sacrifice of praise, we offer freely all we have to give until your spirit sets the world ablaze.
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