"The cross stands above it all
Burning bright in this life
The cross towers over it all
One Hope one Deliverer
Saviour reigning high above it all
Above it all"

"Christ has overcome
It is finished he has won
Christ has overcome
We're standing strong"

The birth of Jesus is described in these words: "The Rising Sun [the Messiah] will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace".

At his arrest, "Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, 'Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?  Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour – when darkness reigns'".

"The soldiers led Jesus away … They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spat on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.  And when they had mocked him, they … led him out to crucify him … It was nine in the morning … The written notice of the charge against him read: 'THE KING OF THE JEWS'… Two rebels were crucified with him … Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, 'So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!' In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him … 'He saved others,' they said, 'but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.' Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three when Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' … With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, 'Surely this man was the Son of God!'"

Let us fall on our knees before the cross in genuine adoration, praise and thanksgiving! It is only because of the cross that the Father is able to be faithful and just in forgiving us our sins and calling us out of darkness into his wonderful light!