AND CAN IT BE?

This hymn is one of my favorite hymns to sing and experience. The melody, cords, and layout of the meter make this hymn exciting to sign. The chorus: “Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my Lord, shouldst die for me?” will always remind me of the night I found out Jesus died for me; the night He became my Lord.

This brings me to the experience of the hymn. Not even the angels in heaven can understand the experience of finding forgiveness in the blood of Jesus. They don’t grow old, die, or sin. Yet, they have watched Jesus give up everything for us, suffer and die for creatures that don’t deserve that kind of love. So, if I were the only one on earth Jesus would have still died on the cross for me. His blood would still have been spilled for me; he would have given up his place in heaven “emptied Himself of all but love” for me. Because of His blood I too can say …my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee. No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him is mine; alive in Him, my living head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17, King James Version

AND CAN IT BE?

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my Lord, shouldst die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my Lord, shouldst die for me?

He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race!
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me.

‘Tis mystery all! Th’ Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke – the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Words: Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788)
Music: Thomas Campbell (1777 – 1844)