O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

The Arrest of Christ - Giotto di Bondone - 1304

I appreciate the words of that hymn, O Sacred Head, Now Wounded. The words are attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux around 1153.

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.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

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!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

I love the author's response to Jesus when he meditates on the suffering and death of Jesus on our behalf. His first response is joy! When we see Jesus dying for our sins, in our place, it is a joy to trust Jesus as our Savior.

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 

Then he pleads for grace. When we see Jesus as our sinless, sympathetic high priest, we run to him and find abundant grace.

Hebrews 4:14-16 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

In the last verse he is overwhelmed with gratitude to Jesus. How can we not spend our lives joyfully saying "thank you" to Jesus?

Ephesians 5:20  giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

And his heart explodes with deep, cherishing love for Jesus as his Savior, Redeemer, and King.

Psalm 73:25  Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 

Joy, grace, gratitude and love. That's the good news of Good Friday!