Scripture Verse

Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Matthew 27:39–40

Introduction

portrait
Frederick W. Faber (1814–1863)

Words: Fred­er­ick W. Fa­ber, Je­sus and Ma­ry (Lon­don: James Burns, 1849), pag­es 24–28, alt.

Music: St. Cross (Dykes) John B. Dykes, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1861 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Das Lei­den des Herrn tra­di­tion­al Ger­man tune (🔊 pdf nwc)
illustration
Lamentation for Christ
Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)

Lyrics

O come and mourn with me awhile;
And tarry here the cross beside;
O come, together let us mourn;
Jesus, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!

Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and Jews deride?
Ah! look how patiently He hangs;
Jesus, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!

How fast His hands and feet are nailed;
His blessèd tongue with thirst is tied,
His failing eyes are blind with blood:
Jesus, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!

His mother cannot reach His face;
She stands in helplessness beside;
Her heart is martyred with her Son’s:
Jesus, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!

Seven times He spoke, seven words of love;
And all three hours His silence cried
For mercy on the souls of men;
Jesus, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!

What was Thy crime, my dearest Lord?
By earth, by Hea­ven, Thou hast been tried,
And guilty found of too much love;
Jesus, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!

Found guilty of excess of love,
It was Thine own sweet will that tied
Thee tighter far than helpless nails;
Jesus, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!

Death came, and Je­sus meekly bowed.
His falling eyes He strove to guide
With mindful love to Mary’s face;
Jesus, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!

O break, O break, hard heart of mine!
Thy weak self-love and guilty pride
His Pilate and His Judas were;
Jesus, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!

Come, take thy stand beneath the cross,
And let the blood from out that side
Fall gently on thee drop by drop;
Jesus, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!

A broken heart, a fount of tears,
Ask, and they will not be denied;
A broken heart love’s cradle is:
Jesus, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!

O love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act your strength is tried;
And vic­to­ry remains with Love;
For He, our Love, is cru­ci­fied!