Lord Jesus, Thine is love indeed,
Beyond our highest thoughts of love,
Which met us in our deepest need,
And brought Thee from Thy home above,
A love that led Thee here below
To tread a lonely path in grace,
To pass through sorrow, grief and woe,
The portion of a ruin’d race.
This love it was, our gracious Lord,
Which led. Then on to that dark hour,
When, faithful to Thy Father’s word,
Thou mettest Satan’s rage and power.
“The power of darkness,” Lord, it was,
The hour when man by Satan led,
In deepest hatred without cause
Did crown with thorns Thy blessed head.
Yet, Lord, e’en there Thy love we see
Supreme o’er all the wrath of men,
For Thou in grace didst deign to be
The willing victim for us there
To death of shame Thy love did reach,
God’s holy judgment then to bear;
Ah! Lord, what human tongue can teach,
Or tell the love that brought Thee there.
And now our hearts look back with praise;
We trace Thy love so full, so deep,
Which shone in all Thy blessed ways,
To save Thy lest, but much loved sheep.
And in Thy love our hearts can find
A peace which words cannot express,
Too deep for man’s poor finite mind,
Yet full of joy and blessedness.
And Lord, this love is still the same,
Unchangeable, and deep, and strong;
Thou still dost call Thy sheep by name,
Preserving from all hurt and wrong.
In glory now o’er all supreme,
Yet still Thy heart, Thy love is here;
“Thine own,” Lord Jesus, Thou dost deem
More dear than all Thy glory there.
That glory, Lord, we long to see,
And Thy blest face, once fill’d with shame;
To see all glory given to Thee,
Who art in glory, still the same.
“The Man Christ Jesus,” here in grace,
The proof, the fullness of a love
That bore the judgment in our place.
That we might share Thy throne above.
A love “that passeth knowledge” Thine,
And yet a love ‘tis ours to know;
‘Tis like a deep exhaustless mine
Of treasure, known e’en here below.
It knows no change, decreases not,
Thy love forever is the same:
It is the portion, ‘tis the lot,
Of those who love Thy blessed name.
Soon shall we praise Thee, Lord, above,
Soon Thine own face in glory see,
And there, enjoying all Thy love,
We’ll spend eternity with Thee.
Our hearts still cry, “Come, Jesus Lord,”
That we Thy Father’s house may share:
We wait to hear the gladsome word
Which calls us up to meet Thee there.