The United Methodist Hymnal

289

Ah, Holy Jesus

1.	Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended, 
	that we to judge thee have in hate pretended? 
	By foes derided, by thine own rejected, 
	O most afflicted!

2.	Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee? 
	Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee! 
	'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee; 
	I crucified thee.

3.	Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered; 
	the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered. 
	For our atonement, while we nothing heeded, 
	God interceded.

4.	For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation, 
	thy mortal sorrow, and thy life's oblation; 
	thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion, 
	for my salvation.

5.	Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee, 
	I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee, 
	think on thy pity and thy love unswerving, 
	not my deserving.

WORDS: Johann Heermann, 1630; Robert S. Bridges, 1899
MUSIC: Johann Crüger, 1640
Theme: Christ's Gracious Life: Passion and Death; Christian Year: Holy Week; Christian Year: Lent; Commitment; Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ: Atonement; Jesus Christ: Love of; Prevenient Grace: Repentance