On Calvary we've adoring stood,
And gazed an that wondrous cross
Where the holy, spotless, Lamb of God
Was slain in His love for us;
How our hearts have stirred at that solemn cry,
While the sun was enwrapt in night,
"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?"
Most blessed, most awful sight.

Our sins were laid on His sacred head,
The curse by our Lord was borne;
For us a victim our Saviour bled,
And endured that death of scorn;
Himself He gave our poor hearts to win--
(Was ever love, Lord, like Thine!)
From the paths of folly, and shame, and sin,
And fill them with joys divine.

We've watched by the tomb where our Saviour lay
When he entered the gloomy grave;
And by death the power of death might slay
And His lambs from the lion save.
Oh! glorious time when the Victor rose!
He liveth, no more to die;
He hath bruised the head of our mighty foes,
For us was His victory!

The gates of heaven are opened wide,
At His name all the angels bow;
The Son of man who was crucified
Is the King of glory now:
We love to look up and behold Him there,
The Lamb for His chosen slain;
And soon shall His saints all His glories share,
With their Head and their Lord to reign.

And now we draw near to the throne of grace,
For His blood and the Priest are there;
And we joyfully seek God's holy face,
With our censer of praise and prayer.
The burning mount and the mystic veil,
With our terrors and guilt, are gone;
Our conscience has peace that can never fail,
'Tis the Lamb on high on the throne.

By James G. Deck, 1807- 1884
From Hymns For the Little Flock, No. 212

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

graphics by mary vannattan

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