Dear Friends,

Yesterday in church we shared the Lord’s Supper. As part of the preparation for it, we sang an old hymn which I hadn’t heard in quite some time and which touched me deeply. I think it will touch you if you take time to read it slowly and thoughtfully, perhaps aloud. God bless you.

Because of Calvary,

John Janney

• Luke 22:19

  Luke 22:19   English Standard Version (ESV)
  19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Luke 22:19

“ACCORDING TO THY GRACIOUS WORD”

According to thy gracious word,
In meek humility,
This will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember thee!

Thy body broken for my sake,
My bread from heaven shall be;
Thy testamental cup I take,
And thus remember thee!

Gethsemane can I forget?
Or there thy conflict see,
Thine agony and bloody sweat,
And not remember thee?

When to the cross I turn mine eyes,
And rest on Calvary,
O Lamb of God, my Sacrifice,
I must remember thee!

Remember thee, and all thy pains,
And all thy love to me;
Yes, while a breath, a pulse remains,
Will I remember thee!

And when these failing lips grow dumb,
And mind and memory flee,
When thou shalt in thy kingdom come,
Jesus, remember me!

[James Montgomery (1771-1854) in Charles S. Nutter, Hymn Studies: An Illustrated and Annotated Edition of the Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church, (New York: Hunt & Eaton, 1892), #836]