Image by Beautiful Light Photography
Matthew 27:31-56 Matthew 28:1-15
This hymn, I always associate to Lent, because of the words and the way it places you specifically into these moments. The moments of the Lord being crucified, being nailed to the cross, laying him in the tomb and piercing him in the side.
Were you there?
Well, physically no, I was not there... and the first time I listened to it I thought it was dumb, I was constantly answering “NO, I was not there... No! NO! No! But we were there, we were the man that was yelling, “Crucify him!” every time we sin.
We are Simon of Arimathea every time we need help carrying our Cross and every time Jesus comes along and helps us carry our cross. We are there every time we turn our backs and deny our faith--it’s another slash to Christ’s side. Then we are the women weeping for our Lord, realizing our faults and how much we need him.
Yes we are there, at the foot of the cross as each nail drives into his skin. Yes, we are there at every cry and wail of pain that is sent out. Yes, we are there because he is on that cross to show and give us all his love. Yes, we are there.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?Were you there when they crucified my Lord?Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Were you there when they pierced him in the side?Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?Were you there when the sun refused to shine?Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when he rose up from the dead? Were you there when he rose up from the dead?Sometimes I feel like shouting 'Glory, glory, glory!' Were you there when he rose up from the dead?
