See our Jesus at the Temple, turned into a marketplace.
See his sadness and frustration; see the anger in his face.
“This is not a place for robbers! This is called a house of prayer
For the peoples of all nations to be gathered and to share.”
See our Jesus passing by a barren fig tree on the way.
His disciples saw it withered, wondered at the sad decay.
Jesus taught them to stay faithful and to cast all doubt aside,
So that God’s unending giving would with them in full abide.
See our Jesus at the table, souls and bodies to be fed;
See the woman with the fragrance pouring out on Jesus’ head.
‘Gainst the grumbling and complaining, Jesus did rebuke and scold,
“Do not mock her; she has praised me! Let her deed be always told.”
See our Jesus, with disciples gathered in the upper room.
Hear him giving last instruction, even against impending gloom:
“Take this bread, this is my body; take this cup, it is my blood.
Hold these fast until God’s mercy comes in overwhelming flood.”
See our Jesus, now uplifted, raised in shame and left to die.
Hear the scornful, mocking watchers; “save yourself!” their taunting cry.
Hear his breath at last exhausted; Jesus’ earthly life is done,
But one soldier sees his glory: “Truly this was God’s own son.”
TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2001, after readings from Mark 11, 14, 15.
MUSIC: Suggested tune NETTLETON, Wyeth’s Repository of Sacred Music,
Part Second, 1813.
Other possible tunes:
JEFFERSON, Alexander Johnson’s Tennessee Harmony, 1818.
PLEADING SAVIOR, Leavitt’s Christian Lyre, 1830/31.
This hymn is tied to Holy Week and events following the triumphal entry, leading up to the crucifixion. The hymn’s basis in Mark’s gospel accounts for certain characteristics of the verses, such as an anonymous woman anointing Jesus’s head instead of Mary anointing Jesus’s feet. It is not a hymn I see as likely sung all in one service, but rather one verse sung each day of Holy Week; nonetheless, do what works for your worship service.
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