Have you ever lifted you voices with others, around a table, and sang a song?  Our little granddaughter listened as we sang in harmony the Doxology the other day at dinner.  We finished and she said, “Again?” 

The disciples sang a song with Jesus, at the last meal they shared together.  We read, “They sang a hymn and then went directly to Mount Olives” (Mark 14:26).  It was while they were eating, this final meal, that Jesus, “took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mark 14:22-24). Little did the disciples know that the next day they would see the broken body of Jesus on the cross and his blood pouring out. With great grief they must have thought, ‘we will never sing with Jesus around a table again’.

But ‘again’ would happen. Their grief would be changed to great joy! There would be more meals with Jesus and more songs to be sung. The words of Jesus, shared with his disciples, before he died, “Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” would be theirs to experience, in all its fullness, in a few short days.  God’s kingdom, spoken of by Jesus, was launched when Jesus rose from the grave. Happy Easter!

Fifty-three weeks ago, we began by singing a song together, every day, as we journeyed through Covid19.  Those songs, sung by you and me, were reminders of God’s kingdom that is near to us every day. Again, and again, we awoke to this realization. N.T. Wright shares that “The message of Easter is that God's new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you're now invited to belong to it.” Happy Easter!

The certainty of my faith, the hope of Jesus, the power of the Word of God, and the gift of living in Christ’s kingdom have been the inspiration for me to write over these many weeks. I have been woken each day to share the good news, again and again.  I know the words of scripture are true, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6).

Today is the last day of “Words of Life for Today.”  Today we will sing our last hymn together on this journey of writing.  The good news is that our songs, sung together, will never end.  In Revelation we read of Jesus on the throne - King of the Kingdom! It is there a new song will continually be sung into eternity (Revelation 14:3). Happy Easter!

Sung, since I was a little girl, these words have always been ones I love.  Words of life are only found in the Bible, and in Jesus, who is The Word. May ‘Words of Life’ continue to speak to us, our families, our communities, and the church of Christ, in the days ahead.

434: Sing Them Over Again To Me

1. Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty,
Teach me faith and duty.

Beautiful words! Wonderful words!
Wonderful words of life!
Beautiful words! Wonderful words!
Wonderful words of life!

2. Christ, the blessed one, gives to all
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life.
All so freely given,
Wooing us to Heaven.

Beautiful words! Wonderful words!
Wonderful words of life!
Beautiful words! Wonderful words!
Wonderful words of life!

3. Sweetly echo the Savior's call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life.
Jesus, only Savior,
Saves and keeps forever. 

Beautiful words! Wonderful words!
Wonderful words of life!
Beautiful words! Wonderful words!
Wonderful words of life!

Author of life, thank you for giving us kingdom life through your risen Son Jesus. Because he lives, we can sing!  Risen Lord, by your Spirit, awaken us each day with continued words of life. Breath into us the heights and depths of your life so that we might share it with others. Help us to see the eternal table which we will gather around, where we will sing together our praises of you, again and again.  AMEN

With care and in prayer,