O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Holy Week draws our attention to our Savior's extreme Passion and excruciating Crucifixion. What a marvelous love our Lord Jesus has shown us as He laid down His life for sinners such as us! The hymn "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" (LSB 449) leads us to ponder just these things, namely, our Savior's Passion to save and redeem us as it begets true adoration from us back to Him.

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, has 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,
And grant to me Thy grace.

What language can 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,
Out live my love for Thee.

Be Thou my consolation,
My shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion
When my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee,
Upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfold Thee.
Who dieth thus dies well. (LSB 449)