The Wonder of the Cross – 40 Days with the Music of Vicky Beeching
Day 39 – Good Friday – Salvation Day
To Read:
From the Scriptures:
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf shall be opened;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert;
7 the burning sand shall become a pool
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp;
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray.
9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35v5-10)
From Vicky Beeching:
Salvation Day
God so loved loved this world
That He gave His Son
Whoever would put their trust
Put their trust in Him
Would live forever would live forever
O I was dead but now I live
O all my sin has been forgiven
O now with all my heart and soul I say
Thank You for my salvation day
I so love love Your world
That I’ll give my life
So they would yes they would
See Your sacrifice
And live forever would live forever
Chorus – repeats
Here we are rescued and ransomed
Sing it out this is our anthem
Shout it out we’ll live forever (repeats)
Chorus – repeats
Thank You for my salvation day (x3)
To Listen: Salvation Day by Vicky Beeching
To Reflect:
One of the big challenges of clergy life is that, when it comes to personal devotion, all the seasons of the church year get mixed up. Whilst trying to focus on the awesomeness of the events of Calvary with my public persona the interior me is worried about Thy Kingdom Come and the season from Ascension to Pentecost. And this year beyond that to study courses on Places of Pilgrimage. Each year, especially on Good Friday, this leaves me in a more mixed-up place of confusion than usual! One of the unexpected gifts of retirement later this Summer is that, from now on, I hope to be able to be more ‘in the moment’ on the right day, in the right place, with a right frame of mind. I guess it’s a bit like Vicky’s longing for an Undivided Heart….
But wherever I am on Good Friday I will probably not be looking directly at the Cross. I’m more like Susan and Lucy on the day Aslan was slain, cowering and crying. I know I am not worthy of this love. I know I continue to shame that perfect love by my own sin and mean-spiritedness. Yet I also know the weight our Beloved carries is my burden which he freely and lovingly asks me to hand to Him. And I am not worthy…
How do you feel? Are you able to spend time gazing on the Wonder of the Cross or do you find, like the disciples who didn’t even stay close enough to Jesus to deny Him, you need to hide? Is Good Friday for you a time of bringing the pain of the world to the foot of calvary or are you able to see beyond today and hear an echo of the ‘Alleluias’ to come?
Down the history of the church we have spent too much time pondering, and then often belittling, those who see the Good Friday and the cross differently to ourselves.
Some need to see a crucifix.
Some find their home is the empty cross with no bloodstains on it.
Still others see the Christus Rex – Christ dressed in kingly robes with a golden crown arms stretched out to bless the world.
All of them are pictures of the same love seen from a different place and all should be cherished.
However I mark this Salvation Day, in worship, in passion plays, in processions, I know that by day’s end I am loved. May you know that same deep deep love which called our Beloved to the Cross that He might die for love of our love.
To Pray:
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, comfort me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
In your wounds hide me.
Do not allow me to be separated from you.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
In the hour of my death call me.
And order me to come to you,
That with your Saints
I may praise you forever.
Attributed to Ignatius of Loyola
To Do:
What kinds of cross do you use to help you in your devotion?
Would it be possible for you to have one of each as a sign of your love for Christians who love our Beloved in a different way to which you do?
Going Further:
For some people attending a performance of Handel’ Messiah has often been a helpful way to bring Good Friday to a close. Here is a short piece using some of the words from today’s Scripture reading.
oooOOOooo
If you would like to find out more about Vicky and her work here is a link to her Wikipedia entry. For a fuller picture her autobiography ‘Undivided’ is highly recommended
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Acknowledgements:
These Reflections, ‘The Wonder of the Cross – 40 Days with the Music of Vicky Beaching’ are copyright © Andrew Dotchin 2026 and may be reproduced without charge on condition that their source is acknowledged.
All of the music on the video clips are from YouTube and are © Vicky Beeching.
If you enjoy listening to her songs please consider buying her recordings. A full discography and other information about Vicky can be found on her website vickybeeching.com.
Scripture quotations are from The New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayers are from A Diary of Prayer compiled by Elizabeth Goudge and are copyright © 1966 The Estate of Elizabeth Goudge.
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