Sung to the tune O Mensch, bewein' dein Sünde gross
1. Behold the Man, creation’s crown, Within a garden overgrown With weeds and snakes of Satan. He cannot hide His naked shame But willingly takes up the blame; He is alone, forsaken. Now in His sleep, God forms a bride Of blood and water from His side; The price is paid to save her. His battered body, bloody wood, God sees and calls it very good, And rests from all His labors. 2. Behold the Lamb of sacrifice, Unblemished, spotless, free from vice, Now caught within the thicket. The Lord a substitute provides, O’er this new feast He now presides, By blood is sin acquitted. The Passover is now fulfilled; His bones intact, the Lamb is killed, An offering pure and kosher. His blood be on us and our sons, Yea, sprinkle it upon our tongues, That death may pass us over. 3. Behold our Priest who intercedes For those who kill Him by their deeds, Atones for the imperfect. On either side, a common thief, Both mocking Him amidst His grief Yet hear His gracious verdict: “You’ll be with me in paradise.” Oh, see His costly sacrifice: He offers up His Spirit. He tears the temple veil in two, The Holy Place is now in view; He beckons us, come near it. 4. Behold the Bridegroom of the whore, Betrothed to her forevermore In righteousness and justice. Her wandering heart has often strayed, But still He gives to her His name, And shows love to the loveless. Behold, He clothes her all in white Behold, He smiles at the sight, The veil between them severed. Oh closest love, oh sweetest kiss, He brings His body to her lips, Their bond to strengthen ever. 5. Behold your King in victory, Who sits upon his throne, the tree, His cup a draught most bitter. His steed, an ass, his crown, of thorns, With scarlet blood his back adorned, His people to deliver. “Hosanna” once his subjects cried Yet gladly give Him up to die, And beg no king but Caesar. O fickle-hearted Israel, You ask for kings and then rebel, Desiring no Easter. 6. Behold the Prophet long foretold, Detested for His preaching bold, All prophecies fulfilling. As Jeremiah wept o’er sin, As Moses’ outstretched arms could win The battle that was raging, As Jonah, swallowed by the whale, Elijah’s triumph over Ba’al, So also now our Jesus: God sent them all into His fields But Israel no fruit would yield, Commiting murder grievous. 7. Behold your God in His meek might, True Light of Light sees darkest night; The infinite is corporal. The sun, aghast, now hides his face, To see his maker’s great disgrace, Th’Eternal as a mortal. Earth coughs up corpses, shudders, groans, The Father leaves the Son alone, As He gives up His Spirit. Even the soldiers now concede “Surely this man was God indeed” Since earth and sky revere Him. 8. Behold the Son of God and man, Obedient, heeds what God commands, Submits and trusts His Father. The Father slays, the mother weeps, The weary body falls asleep In death, His parents honored. His aching mother’s arms now hold The body of her son gone cold Grief’s sword her heart hath piercéd. Now cradled softly in His tomb Awaits He birth from death’s dark womb In Him is God well pleaséd. 9. Behold our Jesus, glorified, Immortal God here crucified, True man, the second Adam. He is the offering, He the priest, He is the very wedding feast, He bridges sin’s great chasm He is the Bridegroom; with His life, He pays to wed the Church, His wife, He is Her strong defender. He is the Prophet, He the Lamb, He is the Son of God and Man, The King in all His splendor.
A PDF with music is available here.
Wow Hannah!