The hymn of the day, On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry (LSB 344), recounts the Old
Testament and Gospel readings of the work of John the Baptist. It closes with a
doxological stanza which proclaims the Good News that Jesus’ ‘advent sets Thy
people free.’ This is Good News, indeed!
On Jordan’s Bank was a Latin hymn written by Charles Coffin in 1736 and translated into English by John Chandler in 1837.
Picture John,
Cousin of Jesus,
Standing in the
River Jordan
Baptizing.
When suddenly
John, with stomach
Full of locusts
And other assorted
goodies
Announces that the
Lord is coming
And will bring
Glad tidings
For all.
John has prepared
The path,
The way made
straight.
In our heart let us
Prepare a home for
our Lord.
Let us receive his
grace
For without it we
Are like a flower
which
Grows, blooms, dies
and decays.
Let us allow Jesus
to
Work in us, to
Work through us, to
Be a light shining
from us, to
Show others the
earth’s
True loveliness once
more.
Let us encourage and
enthuse others
To praise God’s
eternal son
Whose advent sets us
all free.
“The Lord is nigh”,
the Baptist cried
“Praise him for all
he brings.”[1]
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of
Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with
pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[2]
Advent: © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[1]
Poem by Nick Percival www.urcbarnsleygroup.org.uk
[2]Collect
for Advent 2 Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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