119. O Head! Once Full of Bruises

7,6.
by Bernard of Clairvaux
1
O Head! once full of bruises,
 
So full of pain and scorn,
 
Mid other sore abuses
 
Mocked with a crown of thorn;
 
O Head! e’en now surrounded
 
With brightest majesty,
 
In death once bowed and wounded
 
On the accursèd tree.
“And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.” (John 19:2-3)
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3)
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30)
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13)
2
Thou Countenance transcendent!
 
Thou life-creating Sun!
 
To worlds on Thee dependent — 
 
Yet bruised and spit upon:
 
O Lord! what Thee tormented
 
Was our sin’s heavy load,
 
We had the debt augmented
 
Which Thou didst pay in blood.
“And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” (Revelation 1:16)
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3)
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3)
“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:17)
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
“For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on.” (Luke 18:32)
“Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands.” (Matthew 26:67)
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
3
We give Thee thanks unfeignèd,
 
O Savior! Friend in need,
 
For what Thy soul sustainèd
 
When Thou for us didst bleed;
 
Grant us to lean unshaken
 
Upon Thy faithfulness;
 
Until to glory taken,
 
We see Thee face to face.
“A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
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