“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:45, 4645Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:45‑46)).
“Darkness had the world enshrouded―
Dire result of Adam’s fall;
We, his children, in that darkness
Wandered guilty, helpless all.
But Thine eye, Thou God omniscient,
Looked in tender pity down,
And Thy Son, Thy heart’s Beloved,
Thou didst spare from heaven’s throne.
Jesus! Thou amid our darkness
Camest down, the heavenly light,
But we would not have Thee, Saviour,
Choosing still the shades of night.
We despised Thee and rejected,
Nailed Thee to a cross of shame,
Basely mocked Thy dying anguish,
Jesus, patient, holy Lamb!
Then unto Thy God appealing,
E’en from Him no answer came:
Night concealed the heavens above Thee,
Wrath o’erhung the spotless Lamb.
There amid that awful darkness,
God-forsaken, man-despised,
Thou wast bearing our transgressions
All alone, Thou blessed Christ!
Thou didst call, and wast not answered,
Lord, that we might answered be;
That we might with joy behold Him,
God must hide His face from Thee.
Loud doth mercy boast ‘gainst judgment―
Mystery of love divine!
Sin-condemned and God-exalted
In that wondrous cross of Thine...
Lord, the gloom is past forever
We are with Thee in the light―
Children in a Father’s presence―
Now no more the sons of night.
Thou hast done it! Thou hast ransomed
Many brethren by Thy blood:
Low we bow the head and worship
Thee, Thou glorious Son of God.”
C. H. VON P.