Love, Grace & Mercy At Calvary
William Newell (1868-1956) was
best known as a Bible teacher,
pastor and professor. While on
his way to teach a class at Moody
Bible Institute, the words of this
hymn began to form in his mind.
So he went to an unoccupied class
-room and there scribbled the
words on the back of an envelope.
A few minutes later he gave the
words to Daniel Towner, the director
of music at the school. Within an
hour Towner composed the music.
The first three stanzas tell the
testimony of the Christian and the
final stanza praises God for the
greatness of divine love, the depth
of grace and the breadth of mercy.
Lord, thank You for Your Grace:
It was the Preparation Day of the
Passover and about the 6th hour.
And Pilate said to the Jews: Behold
your King! But they cried out:
Crucify Him! Pilate said to them:
Shall I crucify your King? The chief
priests answered: We have no king
but Caesar! Then he delivered Him
to them to be crucified…And He
bearing His cross, went to a place
of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew
Golgotha or in Latin Calvary; where
they crucified Him and two others…
Now Pilate wrote a title and put it
on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING
OF THE JEWS… written in Hebrew,
Greek and Latin (John 19:14-20).
Father God, in Your mercy, You
sent Jesus to die for our sins on
Calvary’s tree and that He rose
again on the third day so that
our sins are completely forgiven,
and that we have been set free.
Lord Jesus, we praise and thank
You for Your sacrifice for our sins.
You paid our debt at Calvary to give
us eternal life with You my Saviour!
Holy Spirit, help us to live for Christ
even as Jesus died for us. Amen.
Lord Jesus, this hymn encourages
us to hold on to faith regardless of
the struggles we may face in life.
The chorus reminds us that God’s
grace will see His children through.
So, we will stop trying to carry these
burdens and give them to Jesus.
And we’ll not let our heart grow cold
with doubt for Jesus is all we need.
For “Mercy there was great & grace
was free;Pardon there was given
to me. And There my burdened soul
found liberty at Calvary!” Amen.
Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me
He died On Calvary.
Mercy was great & grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul
found liberty At Calvary.
Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul
can only sing Of Calvary! Amen.