St Clement’s,
Chorlton-cum-Hardy Preached by The Revd Ian M Delinger on Sunday, April 8, 2007.
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[PLAY TRACK BEFORE READING]
I doubt that you were expecting that on Easter Evening!! Two weeks ago I undertook the task of finding an upbeat version of Amazing Grace to use on Easter Day. I found two, this one and a contemporary jazz version that I used this morning at St Elisabeth’s Reddish. When I first heard it, and as I listen to it again and again, I think it is one of the oddest renditions of any song I’ve ever heard. Hundreds of hymn lyrics and poems have been set in thousands of different musical genres. But somehow, Amazing Grace in the style of River Dance just seems weird! But Bob Barrett, the actual performer…not River Dance…clearly understands that this song is about experiencing the joy of knowing that we have received grace from God! The words to Amazing
Grace were written as part of a sermon by John Newton, a slave trader
who knew William Wilberforce back at the end of the 18th Century. Many
assume his lyrics to be his testimony about his slave trading past. The
lyrics vividly and briefly sum up the doctrine of Divine Grace. They are
based on I Chronicles 17:16, where King David marvels at God’s choosing
him and his lineage. It’s Easter, and it is precisely now that we are reminded that Jesus Christ died on the cross so that we are no longer slaves to sin, and Jesus Christ rose from the dead so that we are no longer slaves to death! Our slavery has been abolished…by the giver of grace Himself, God! So Amazing Grace, this summary of the doctrine of divine grace, is no more appropriate than to be listened to, sung, recited, chanted, whatever…TODAY!! And joyously, joyfully, dancing-ly. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace towards me has not been in vain.” Isn’t that something to celebrate rather than to drag out the pipe & drum band and put on your black suit? If we approach the amazing grace we realize at Easter with the sobriety of the funeral dirge we associate with the song, then His grace towards has been in vain! Christ’s Death and Resurrection achieved for us a grace that we cannot begin to fathom. And we don’t need to fathom the grace. We just need to accept it, live our lives knowing that grace. So, celebrate the Resurrection!! You’ve probably already devoured that chocolate, and had several glasses, if not bottles of wine. You can now double the amount of butter on your toast in the morning. But do more than just eat chocolate to celebrate the Resurrection! REJOICE!! Shout! Sing! Dance! Hug someone! Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! (Make them respond until they do it emphatically) Easter gives to us, illustrates to us, offers us, bestows upon us that Amazing Grace…that’s what it’s is all about! It’s yours. It’s free. Don’t let it be in vain. When you leave here, share it with everyone you know and everyone you meet. It’s the most fantastic thing you’ll ever get, but you have to know it and experience it and believe it! Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! Happy Easter! |