May 24, 2020 (Sunday)
Tomorrow is Memorial Day, when we honor those who have died for us in wars fought to preserve freedom. Tomorrow’s blog will help us to remember those who served and died in the service of their country.
When we think of someone dying for us, we always think of Jesus.
Although this is Memorial Day weekend, we can focus on Christ and His sacrifice for us on this Lord’s Day.
The Nursery Rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” was written by Mary Hale of Boston on this date in the year 1830. I wrote a blog all about her and her lamb, on March 15, 2015.
The lamb brings to mind John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” We’ve all seen the picture of Jesus as the Good Shepherd holding a lamb in his arms. The lamb secure in the arms of Jesus is a perfect picture of the child of God trusting in Jesus who loves and protects him.
The lamb also brings to mind the Passover. The Children of Israel were slaves in Egypt when Moses was sent by the Lord to deliver them, and take them to the Promised Land. Pharaoh refused to let them go. Even after the Lord sent a number of plagues, the Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let them go. Only the 10th plague, the universal death of the first born in every Egyptian home persuaded the Pharaoh to let them go. A spotless lamb without blemish was slain in every Israelite’s home. The Blood of the Passover lamb was smeared on the house to protect them from the visit of the Death Angel. When he saw the blood he passed over that house and spared it from death.
The New Testament tells us that Christ is our Passover. When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, he cried out so that all could hear, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
It was no accident that Jesus shed His precious blood on the Cross as the Passover was being observed. He is our real sacrifice. There is power in His blood. Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
I wanted to include a performance of “He Gave Himself for Me,” but none was available. I’ve included the words below. In the meantime, an old song you know with this theme is presented here:
I have sung this song many times as a solo and as a duet with Wanda.
I cannot find a recording of its being sung. Sorry.
HE GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME
Author: Judson W. Van De Venter
Tune: [The debt I owed I could not pay]
circa 1880
1 The debt I owed I could not pay,
For I was helpless from the fall;
Yet still I heard the Spirit say
That Jesus paid it all.
Chorus:
He paid my debt upon the cross,
He died to set me free;
When nothing else could pay the loss,
He gave Himself for me.
2 The way was dark, I could not see,
My hope was gone, my faith was small,
Until the Word revealed to me
That Jesus paid it all. [Chorus]
3 By faith I saw Him bleed and die!
That dreadful day I now recall,
When nothing else could satisfy,
Then Jesus paid it all. [Chorus]
4 He saved my soul that once was lost,
He rescued me, a worthless thrall
I wonder, when I count the cost,
Why Jesus paid it all. [Chorus]
5 I found a place within His care,
The gates of death cannot appall;
His grace will keep me ever there,
For Jesus paid it all. [Chorus]