On the Sundays in Lent this year, I want to share with you some hymns for this season of the year that help me in my preparation for Easter. We’ll start with “Jesus I Will Ponder Now.”
It speaks of the Passion, the suffering Jesus endured in order to make payment for the sins of the world. It wants us to recognize just how horrible it was for Jesus to endure the burden of the sins of all people, including our own. The goal is that we would repent and receive the benefit of all Jesus did, living with the confidence of forgiveness for His sake. This should also result in our striving to live each day in grateful response, turning from sin and to our loving Savior.
Jesus, I will ponder now On Thy holy Passion;
With Thy Spirit me endow For such meditation.
Grant that I in love and faith May the image cherish
Of Thy suffering, pain, and death That I may not perish.
Make me see Thy great distress, Anguish and affliction,
Bonds and stripes and wretchedness And Thy crucifixion;
Make me see how scourge and rod, Spear and nails, did wound Thee,
How for man Thou diedst, O God, Who with thorns had crowned Thee.
Yet, O Lord, not thus alone Make me see Thy Passion,
But its cause to me make known And its termination.
Ah! I also and my sin Wrought Thy deep affliction;
This indeed the cause hath been Of Thy crucifixion.
Grant that I Thy Passion view With repentant grieving
Nor Thee crucify anew By unholy living.
How could I refuse to shun Every sinful pleasure
Since for me God’s only Son Suffered without measure?
If my sins give me alarm And my conscience grieve me,
Let Thy cross me fear disarm, Peace of conscience give me
Grant that I may trust in Thee And Thy holy Passion.
If His Son so loveth me, God must have compassion.
Grant that I may willingly Bear with Thee my crosses,
Learning humbleness of Thee, Peace mid pain and losses.
May I give Thee love for love! Hear me, O my Savior,
That I may in heaven above Sing Thy praise forever.
(The Lutheran Hymnal #140)
Pondering the Passion of our Lord is a worthwhile endeavor.
