by Leland Ryken (Author)
God's eternal redemptive plan came to fruition in the events of a tumultuous handful of days. In the two thousand years since, believers have sought to express the horror of Christ's crucifixion, the joy of his resurrection, and the wonder of the personal and eternal implications of both. The works of poets such as John Milton, John Donne, and Christina Rosetti and hymnists such as Isaac Watts and Fanny Crosby unite with the poetic testimony of Scripture in this anthology. Forty meditative readings present their work alongside literary explanations from author Leland Ryken. Accompanied by beautiful artwork (none shows Christ's face), they are designed to fix our thoughts on God and the spiritual life and to awaken our religious affections. Rather than merely recreating the events, these psalms, hymns, and poems lead us to analyze their spiritual meaning and prompt us to respond with heartfelt praise and adoration.