Sunday, March 9, 2008

Hymn of the Week: Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?

Also known as At The Cross, this classic hymn of Isaac Watts is especially appropriate at this time of year. Easter is only two weeks away, and every one of us would be wrong to forget, or to fail to meditate upon, what actually happened on that cross two thousand years ago.

He died for sinners like me. My crimes put him there. My Sovereign shed His own blood for my sins. And my heart should be thankful!

And thankfully, when each of us comes to the cross in faith, the burden of our heart can roll away, our eternal destiny can be made secure, and we can indeed be happy every day!

It should sadden us that the cross was necessary, but praise the Lord that He suffered in our place!

Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?
[originally, For such a worm as I?]

Refrain

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His Soul in anguish stood.

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
’Tis all that I can do.

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