Brooksyne’s Note: My prayer is based on the hymn, "He Was Wounded for Our Transgressions" written in 1941 by Thomas Chisolm well known for his hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". Years ago I laid awake one night because the words of this song kept playing over and over in my mind. It’s never been one of my “top ten” favorite songs due to its tune which is somewhat difficult to sing and the tone which is quite gloomy, but its message lingered in my spirit throughout the night and even the next morning.  I kept thinking of the many things Jesus gave up or endured on His earthly journey that would conclude at the cross even as the tune played in my mind:

    * His glory in heaven.
    * His royal privileges.
    * His being subjected to Satan’s temptuous ways.
    * His incorruptible body being subjected to physical death.
    * His being numbered with transgressors while the guilty were freed.
    * His being abandoned by those closest to Him.
    * His silence when false accusations were hurled at Him.
    * His being subjected to betrayal and physical cruelty by those He came to save.
    * His bearing all our sin to satisfy what the law demanded.

What really struck me is the growing list of all that He did for me, while I did nothing,  yet I freely and eternally benefit from His sacrifice. I can only respond with the words of another old hymn, “O what wonder! How amazing! Jesus, glorious King of kings, deigns to call me His beloved, Lets me rest beneath His wings!”   ("All For Jesus" by Mary James, 1871)

"O Mighty Cross"  Video  Integrity Music

Pastor: Here they crucified Him, and with Him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. John 19:18

Congregation: This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. Acts 2:23

Pastor:  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Congregation: May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

Pastor: By abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  Ephesians 2:15-17

Congregation: He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name.  Philippians 2:7-9  

Pastor: For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19,20 

Congregation: When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13,14

All: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12:1-3