Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow

426 Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow

1 Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow,
   Where the blood of Christ was shed,
   Perfect Man on thee did suffer,
   Perfect God on thee has bled!

2 Here the King of all the ages,
   Throned in light ere worlds could be,
   Robed in mortal flesh is dying,
   Crucified by sin for me.

3 O myster'ous condescending!
   O abandonment sublime!
   Very God Himself is bearing
   All the sufferings of time!

4 Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow,
   Where the blood of Christ was shed,
   Perfect Man on thee did suffer,
   Perfect God on thee has bled!
                         William J. Sparrow-Simpson
                         The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

<idle musing>
As usual when there are more verses, Cyberhymnal has the most complete:

4. Evermore for human failure
   By His passion we can plead;
   God has born all mortal anguish,
   Surely He will know our need.

5. This—all human thought surpassing—
   This is earth’s most awful hour,
   God has taken mortal weakness!
   God has laid aside His power!

6. Once the Lord of brilliant seraphs,
   Winged with love to do His will,
   Now the scorn of all His creatures,
   And the aim of every ill.

7. Up in Heaven, sublimest glory
   Circled round Him from the first;
   But the earth finds none to serve Him,
   None to quench His raging thirst.

8. Who shall fathom that descending,
   From the rainbow circled throne,
   Down to earth’s most base profaning,
   Dying desolate alone.

9. From the Holy, Holy, Holy,
   We adore Thee, O most High,
   Down to earth’s blaspheming voices
   And the shout of Crucify.

</idle musing>