Great Hymns of the Cross and Jesus' Blood

[rlvaughn]

In another forum MennoSota started a thread on Great Hymns and Spiritual songs about salvation by grace alone. This gave me an idea to start one on "Hymns of the Cross and Jesus' Blood." Please share songs of the cross of Christ and His blood atonement that teach the word and touch your heart. I will start out with one song that is full of the blood.

Nothing but the Blood
Words and music by Robert Lowry, published in Gospel Music, by Doane & Lowry, 1876

1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2. For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

3. Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

4. This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

5. Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

6. Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

The last two stanzas are original with Lowry, but they don't appear in most song books.

 

[rlvaughn]

Now, another great favorite of mine:

Godly Sorrow from the Sufferings of Christ.
By Isaac Watts, from Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1707, Book II, Hymn 9

1. Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
And did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

2. Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
The glorious Sufferer stood!

3. Was it for crimes that I have done,
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

4. Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut its glories in,
When God, the mighty maker, died
For his own creature's sin.

5. Thus might I hide my blushing face
While his dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.

6. But drops of tears can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe.
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
'Tis all that I can do.

The text often appears with the popular choruses:

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Or:
He loves me, He loves me,
He loves me, this I know;
He gave Himself to die for me
Because He loves me so.

 

[MennoSota]

"O Sacred Head, Now Wounded"

by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
1. O sacred Head, now wounded,
With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory,
What bliss, till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.
2. Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee,
Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee
And flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish
That once was bright as morn!
3. Now from Thy cheeks has vanished
Their color, once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished
The splendor that was there.
Grim Death, with cruel rigor,
Hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou has lost Thy vigor,
Thy strength, in this sad strife.
4. My burden in Thy Passion,
Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression
Which brought this woe on thee.
I cast me down before Thee,
Wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee;
Redeemer, spurn me not!
5. My Shepherd, now receive me;
My Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me,
O Source of gifts divine!
Thy lips have often fed me
With words of truth and love,
Thy Spirit oft hath led me
To heavenly joys above.
6. Here I will stand beside Thee,
From Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me!
When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish
In death's cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish,
Thee in mine arms I'll clasp.
7. The joy can ne'er be spoken,
Above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken
I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of life, desiring
Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring,
I'd breathe my soul to Thee.
8. What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
Oh, make me thine forever!
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never,
Outlive my love for Thee.
9. My Savior, be Thou near me
When death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me,
Forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish,
Oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish
By virtue of Thine own!
10. Be Thou my Consolation,
My Shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy Passion
When my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee,
Upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfold Thee.
Who dieth thus dies well!

 

[rlvaughn]

Lyrics from the Southern Harmony, 1835

The cross of Christ inspires my heart
To sing redeeming grace;
Awake, my soul, and bear a part
In my Redeemer’s praise.
Oh, who can be compared to Him
Who died upon the tree?
This is my dear delightful theme,
That Jesus died for me.

(Second stanza in the video is from Reginald Heber)

 

[Marooncat79]

There is a fountain filled w blood
Drawn from Emmanuels veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains

 

[Marooncat79]

Alas and did my saviour bleed and did my sovereign die
Would he devote that sacred head for such a worm as I

 

[tyndale1946]

Alas and did my saviour bleed and did my sovereign die
Would he devote that sacred head for such a worm as I

One of my Mothers favorites "The Old Rugged Cross"... Will one of you brethren be so kind to post the music on here for me... I can't at this time figure out how... Thank You... Brother Glen

 

[Covenanter]

Gerhardt's hymn "Of sacred head" is used in Bach's "St. Matthew Passion."
Our choir joined with others in singing it (over 3 hours) as a tribute to a much loved local musician who died in her 50s from cancer.
She suggested it for her funeral and her husband got choirs and musicians together.

 

[kyredneck]

"The Old Rugged Cross"... Will one of you brethren be so kind to post the music on here for me.

http://www.primitivebaptist.net/Singing/The Old Rugged Cross 2.mp3

http://www.primitivebaptist.net/Singing/The Old Rugged Cross.mp3

From:
PrimitiveBaptist.Net A Cappella MP3 Songs of Praise Online

 

[Jerome]

Just as I am - without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

 

[tyndale1946]

http://www.primitivebaptist.net/Singing/The Old Rugged Cross 2.mp3

http://www.primitivebaptist.net/Singing/The Old Rugged Cross.mp3

From:
PrimitiveBaptist.Net A Cappella MP3 Songs of Praise Online

Thank you my dear Brother kyredneck in the Lord and friend... Just like I used to lead in song service... Listening to this I thought of Mom and Dad, and those precious saint long gone to be with the Lord... And those Precious Memories flooded my soul... Brother Glen

 

[Bible Thumpin n Gun Totin]

They Whipped Him Up the Hill Just for Me

It tears me up every time I hear it.

 

[rlvaughn]

Jesus, a Man of Sorrows, or His Sorrows, author unknown

This old hymn was printed in a number of (words only) Baptist hymn books in the 1800s. This oldest printing I found so far is A New Selection of Hymns especially adapted to Public Worship published in London in 1828, and I have never found it attributed to an author. I think it is a good one, though.

1. Behold, the Son of God appears,
To save from sin and woe;
He leaves his radiant throne on high,
To dwell with men below.

2. Clothing himself with mortal flesh,
He flew to our relief;
Sorrows his chief acquaintance were,
And his companion, grief!

3. From Bethlehem's inn to Calvary's cross,
Affliction marked his road;
And many a weary step he took
To bring us back to God.

4. How keen the anguish and the smart
That pain'd His holy mind,
When all the pow'rs of earth and hell
Against Him were combin'd !

5. How heavier far the weighty load
(When sorrow filled His breast)
That in the garden's gloomy scene
His mourning soul opprest.

6. But darker far the awful hour
When on the cross he cried,
"Tis finished," the full ransom paid,
Then bowed his head and died.

7. And did my Saviour thus expire
Nailed to the accursed tree?
To Him I give my soul away,
Who bled and died for me.

A Selection of Hymns for the use of Baptist Congregations published in London in 1852 recommended the tune Walsal.

 

[rlvaughn]

Crucifixion Hymn by Samuel Stennett
The Attraction of the Cross. John 12:32. Common Meter.

1. Yonder amazing sight!—I see
Th’ incarnate Son of God
Expiring on th’ accursed tree,
And weltering in his blood!*

2. Behold a purple torrent run
Down from his hands and head!
The crimson tide puts out the sun—
His groans awake the dead!

3. The trembling earth, the darkened sky,
Proclaim the truth aloud’
And, with th’ amazed centurion, cry,
“This is the Son of God!”

4. So great, so vast a sacrifice
May well my hope revive;
If God’s own Son thus bleeds and dies,
The sinner sure may live.

5. Oh, that these cords of love divine
Might draw me, Lord, to thee!
Thou hast my heart—it shall be thine—
Thine shall it ever be!

* [Note: some versions have, “In agony and blood]

 

[Jerome]

There is a fountain filled w blood
Drawn from Emmanuels veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.

In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

 

[rsr]

How Deep the Father's Love for us:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...yTJjVgXUWHXAdfy9w&sig2=rsD_efEZY4n1xnL3AF03Ng

The Power of the Cross:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...N_RCtMaRpqK62zx3w&sig2=H3Bp6DjXgxHUhUbzbKlRvg

In Christ Alone:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...Sm1z_9i8I6c85HPUA&sig2=iH8-u7rnOBAWav1bWav5YQ

 

[Alcott]

I was sitting in my "Life Group" this morning-- the one I teach is now 'on hiatus' because of very low attendance-- and I saw some blood on a finger, then on a thumb, and did not know exactly where it was from. I finally found it was from my nose. But fortunately it never did stream out, and I think I kept it a secret, per se. So, songs about blood... (I know, not about my blood, except what I going to compose here)...

Alas, and did my nostril bleed
And take me by surprise;
Yet did not flow nonviscously--
'Twas kept from roving eyes.

In our class, in our class, while we read Isaiah 8,
And my finger and my thumb appeared to blush--
When I fin'lly figured out blood was coming from my snout,
I then grabbed a napkin lest it start to gush!

Then when we were about to close,
We stood up for the prayer.
I held the napkin to my nose
Remove it-- I'd not dare!

And "Amen--" we said "Amen--" and the class was then complete,
And a friend remarked that she had allergies, too.
So I told her no indeed,; that my nose began to bleed,
And I'm glad I kept it hidden from her view.

 

[tyndale1946]

This is an old one and don't know if you ever sang in in your church but I remember leading it in mine many times... I believe the author is Joseph Hart 1873... Brother Glen


Gethsemane

Many woes had Christ endured,
Many sore temptations met,
Patient, and to pain’s inured;
But the sorest trial yet
Was to be sustained in thee,
Gloomy, sad Gethsemane!

Came at length the dreadful night,
Vengeance, with its iron rod,
Stood, and with collected might,
Bruised the harmless Lamb of God:
See, my soul, the Saviour see,
Groveling in Gethsemane.

There my God bore all my guilt;
This through grace can be believed;
But the torments which he felt,
Are too vast to be conceived:
None can penetrate through thee,
Doleful, dark Gethsemane.

All my sins against my God ;
All my sins against his laws;
All my sins against his blood;
All my sins against his cause;
Sins as boundless as the sea;
Hide me, O Gethsemane.

Here’s my claim, and here alone;
None a Saviour more can need;
Deeds of righteousness I’ve none;
Nor a work that I can plead;
Not a glimpse of hope for me,
Only in Gethsemane.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
One almighty God of love,
Praised by all the heavenly host,
In thy shining courts above;
We poor sinners, gracious Three,
Bless thee for Gethsemane.

 

[Reynolds]

lead me to the cross. Newsboys

 

[rlvaughn]

There is this old "stand-by" by Isaac Watts, "Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ, Gal. vi.14" (1707):

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

I have seen the following verse included as the sixth stanza, but have not been able to confirm whether it was part of Watts's original:

To Christ, who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
Forever and forevermore.