Today my Lord was slain for me,
Behold His pain and anguish.
For me He hung upon the tree
My enemy to vanquish.
The substitute for sin He died,
In my place counted guilty;
To Him my record was applied
And He was punished swiftly.
For Him no stand-in could be found
Since only He was able,
And so the innocent was bound
Whose crib had been a stable.
For my dark guilt He took my stripes,
My death, and my affliction.
For Him no angel now alights
To ease His crucifixion.
Deep in my sins, by them defiled,
Though sinless pure and holy,
He bears the weight upon Him piled
And feels the darkness fully.
Yet no relief can be applied –
The punishment is fitting.
The cup of wrath to Him supplied
Is full, yet He’s submitting.
And in that pain His one delight
Is broken and extinguished,
The Father turns away His sight
Until the work is finished.
Fully forsaken and alone
Without one gleam of pity
He hangs in shame none else has known,
And darkness hides the city.
The last drop drunk, my debt is paid –
Remitted to the fullest!
The sun returns to hear it said:
The work is finally “finished.”
Oh words of hope, my sin is gone!
My soul is fully pardoned!
The battle He has fought and won.
My Spirit is unburdened.
What grace divine that God should die
To save His own creation.
What love displayed that He would buy
My soul and my salvation.
Where Jesus died, now sinners live,
His shame becomes my glory.
What more could He apply or give?
This is love’s wondrous story.
The cross of shame becomes a light –
A beacon of salvation.
There burdens flee and guilt takes flight
Replaced by full redemption.
Christina Joy Hommes
Good Friday, 2016
