An American spiritual hymn printed in 1899 metaphorically bears and identifies the American slaves of that era with their complicity in the sin that resulted in the Crucifixion. Maybe we could reflect on these words as we consider and remember our complicity in what our Lord Jesus had to endure and suffer for our sins!

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?

In the 1800’s John Wreford, an English Unitarian minister wrote this hymn at a time when he was losing his voice and was no longer able to continue preaching. These words come from a heart expressing “feelings of weakness” but despite this he turns to Christ to praise Him with an even “firmer faith”

01 When my love to Christ grows weak
When for deeper faith I seek,
Then in thought I go to thee
Garden of Gethsemane

02 There I walk amid the shades
While lingering twilight fades
See that suffering, friendless One
Weeping, praying there alone

03 When my love for man grows weak
When for stronger faith I seek
Hill of Calvary. I go
To thy scenes of fear and woe

04 There behold His agony
Suffered on a bitter tree
See His anguish, see His faith
Love triumphant still in death

05 Then to life I turn again
Learning all the worth of pain
Learning all the might that lies
In a full sacrifice.

06 And I praise with firmer faith
Christ who vanquished pain and death
And to Christ enthroned above
Raise my sing of selfless love.