Behold the Savior of mankind
nailed to the shameful tree;
how vast the love that him inclined
to bleed and die for thee!
Hark how he groans! While nature shakes,
and earth’s strong pillars bend!
The temple’s veil in sunder breaks,
the solid marbles rend.
‘Tis done! The precious ransom’s paid!
“Receive my soul!” he cries;
see where he bows his sacred head!
He bows his head and dies!
But soon he’ll break death’s envious chain
and in full glory shine.
O Lamb of God, was never pain,
was ever love like thine?
Written by Samuel Wesley (1662-1735), this is one of the few relics of his papers found after the fire which destroyed the Ephworth rectory during the night of February 9, 1709, when his son, young John Wesley, was rescued as a “brand plucked out of the burning”. It was first printed in John Wesley’s hymnbook, A Collection of Psalms and Hymns (Charleston, 1737), under the title “On the Crucifixion”.
The United Methodist Hymnal
Book of United Methodist Worship
Copyright © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Eighth Printing 1993
All Rights Reserved
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