Alas, and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die
Would he devote that sacred head
for sinners such as I?
Almost 200 years later, Ralph E Hudson, another hymn writer wrote the popular chorus:
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
During his many evangelistic journeys, Mr. Hudson began to include his “refrain/chorus” as part of the arrangement for “Alas And Did My Savior Bleed” and it became quite popular.
What great – gospel centered lyrics – by two godly men who lived centuries apart and yet shared the same passion for the glorious gospel in song.
Because we share that same passion, we have included these combined truths in our latest version of the song titled, “At The Cross Wondrous Cross”.
In truth I watched my Savior bleed
I saw my Sovereign die
He did devote that Sacred head
For such a worm as I
It was for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree
Amazing pity grace unknown
And love beyond degree
At the cross wondrous cross
Where I first saw the light
There by faith, saving faith
I received my site
That “Good Friday”, on Calvary’s hill, the Savior bled, died, and devoted his sacred head to a crown of thorns; for sinners such as you and I. On that blessed day, before the eyes all his watching enemies, we saw the following:
We saw the sun in darkness hide
And shut His glories in
When Christ the Mighty Maker died
For man, the creature’s sin
When we consider His death and burial this Good Friday, like the sun, we can “hide our blushing faces”; we can also “dissolve our hearts in thankfulness and melt our eyes to tears”; but none of that can ever repay the debt of love we owe to the One who died and was buried on that day – over 2000 years ago. The best we can offer it to “give ourselves away” and let that be all that we now know.