St Nicholas Methodist Church

 

Symbols of The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Day 3

Artwork and Verse by Rev’d Paul Collings

Angus Dei*

Lamb of God, so true so pure,

You take away the sin and cure

The world of all its sins, so pray,

have mercy, Lord, and with us stay.

Lamb of God, divine Dear Son,

You take away the sin, atone

For all the world, we deeply pray

have mercy, Lord, and with us stay.

Lamb of God, who with us lives,

You take away the sin, forgive

The world of all its sins - we pray

have mercy, Lord, and with us stay.

*Agnus Dei, is Latin, and in English means Lamb of God, a title given to Jesus and used for centuries in Christian worship. It is based on the saying of John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). This in turn forms part of many liturgies: “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us! Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us! Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace!” It comes between the Lord’s Prayer  and the Communion and sounds the themes of sacrifice and of adoration. As such it unites the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross as the Lamb of God and calls to mind the sacrifice of the lamb in the seen within the Old Testament. But perhaps of great consolation is the reminder that Christ’s sacrifice culminates in peace; his peace.