Good Friday: Were You There?

This is probably the most familiar of the Easter-season spirituals. There are many scripture references that would fit, but I chose Mark 15:33-38.

At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Here’s a  wonderful men’s quartet (Largo, FL) singing “Were You There?” There’s a bit of audio trouble at the beginning, but keep listening. It’s worth the wait.

And, then there’s this  solo by famous black singer Paul Robeson.

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