a song of contemplation

here are the words to one of my favorite Easter hymns:

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, see him dying on the tree!

'Tis the Christ by man rejected; Yes, my soul, 'tis he, 'tis he!

'Tis the long expected Prophet, David's Son, yet David's Lord;

By his Son God now has spoken: 'Tis the true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear him groaning, was there ever grief like his?

Friends through fear his cause disowning, foes insulting his distress;

Many hands were raised to wound him, non would interpose to save;

But the deepest stroke that pierced hi was the stroke that justice gave.

Ye who think of sin but lightly nor suppose the evil great.

Here may view its nature rightly. Here its guilty may estimate.

Mark the Sacrifice appointed, see who bears the awful load;

'Tis the Word, the Lord's Anointed, Son of Man and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation, here the refuge of the lost;

Christ's the Rock of our salvation, His the name of which we boast.

Lamb of God, for our sinners wounded, Sacrifice to cancel guilt!

None shall ever be confounded who on him their hope have built.

~ amen