Why?

(David Harsha, "Christ Crucified")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

Why does the Lord of life and glory suffer?

Why does He endure that piercing agony and that bloody sweat in gloomy Gethsemane?

Why is He condemned to the death of Calvary?

Look at the crucified Jesus!

Why does He hang on that bloody cross?

Why are those blessed hands and feet nailed to the accursed tree?

Why is that dear side pierced with the soldier's spear?

Why does the immaculate Lamb of God thus bleed?

Ah! believing sinner, it is for you!

For you, Christ endured that indescribable agony in Gethsemane, and those excruciating pains on Calvary!

For you, the blood trickles down those pale cheeks, and streams from that pierced side.

For you, the Son of God endures the hidings of His Father's face--until He is led to exclaim in the bitterness of His soul, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

For you, His last breath is drawn, and His last cry uttered, "It is finished!"

O could you but see with faith's vision, what Christ has done for you--surely your whole heart would burn with love to such a Savior, who, to ransom your precious soul from eternal woe, shed His own blood! That precious blood was poured out to cleanse you from the guilt of sin!

Sin, then, was the cause of the sufferings and death of God's dear Son. Ah! sinner, you have slain the innocent Lamb of God! You have caused those wounds on Immanuel's glorious person. Your sins pierced Him to the very heart!