Ah, the bloodstained cross of Jesus

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Book Number:
  • 1171

Ah, the bloodstained cross of Jesus!
While eternal years unfold,
never shall it be forgotten
nor its riches fully told.

2. Where the heavenly harps are sounding,
one theme rings through every song:
highest praise, eternal glory
to the Lamb of God belong.

3. What can match his blood, its virtue,
saving souls by mortal pain?
Not the finest strings of heaven,
nor the sweetest angel strain.

4. Wonders from that costly suffering,
fresh delights to understand,
shall we find revealed through ages
numberless as grains of sand.

5. Ah, the sacrifice of Jesus!
Priceless to infinity—
to the end of endless ages
ever new the song shall be.

BASED ON THE HYMN ‘MAE’R GWAED A REDODD AR Y GROES,’ BY ROBERT WILLIAMS OF EIFIONYDD (ROBERT AP GWILYM DDU) 1767–1850

© 2015 MARTIN E LECKEBUSCH
Martin E Leckebusch

The Son - His Suffering and Death

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Tune

A look at the author

Leckebusch, Martin Ernest

b Leicester 1962. King Edward VII Coll, Coalville, Leics; Oriel Coll Oxford; BA/MA (Maths) 1983; Brunel Univ Middx, MSc (Numerical Analysis) 1984. He worked for 16 yrs as a Computer Systems Programmer, followed by 5 as Support Specialist. In 2006 he was redirected to the role of Technical Design Authority for the IBM mainframe platform within Lloyds TSB. He has belonged to various CofE and Free Churches, including 6 yrs as a Methodist Local Preacher (1992–1998); currently a member of Kendal Rd Baptist Ch, Longlevens, Gloucester since 2001. His hymn-writing began in 1987; 144 hymn texts were collected in More than Words, 2000, some of which had appeared in earlier books including NewStart (1999, 6 hymns in a total of 71), Sing Glory (14 hymns), and Praise! A collection of 150 texts based on the Psalms, for singing to well-known tunes, appeared in 2006, giving a total of 275 texts by then in print. 6 of these are in Carol Praise (2006). In that year he also joined the Text Advisory Group (TAG) of Jubilate Hymns which he later chaired, and he also consults regularly with representatives of the more informal songwriters; he is active in the Hymn Soc, and lives with his family in Gloucester. In the 2005 edn of A Panorama of Christian Hymnody, which features 2 of his texts, Paul A Richardson notes their ‘conservative theology, biblical imagery and structural ingenuity’, adding that ML ‘advocates a restoration of hymnody in traditional forms to those who, like him, are in the charismatic wing of the church’. He is also keen to explore some issues often neglected by contemporary writers. By 2010, which saw the publication of a further collection Never Let the Songs End, the total number of his hymns had exceeded 400. Nos.270, 278, 285, 322, 381, 586, 604, 665, 756, 770, 771, 841, 856, 882, 892, 926, 936, 942, 1023, 1029, 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1123, 1124, 1125, 1139, 1140, 1141, 1142, 1167, 1168, 1170, 1171, 1173, 1176, 1177, 1182, 1194, 1196, 1197, 1202, 1206, 1207, 1208, 1217, 1240, 1243.