“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.“ (2 Corinthians 5:21)
O mystery of love divine
That thought and thanks o’erpowers!
Lord Jesus, was our portion Thine,
And is Thy portion ours?
Emmanuel, didst Thou take our place
To set us in Thine own?
Didst Thou our low estate embrace
To lift us to Thy throne?
Didst Thou fulfill each righteous deed,
God’s perfect will express,
That we th’unfaithful ones might plead
Thy perfect faithfulness?
For Thee the Father’s hidden face?
For Thee the bitter cry?
For us the Father’s endless grace,
The song of victory?
Our load of sin and misery
Didst Thou, the sinless, bear?
Thy spotless robe of purity
Do we the sinners wear?
Lord Jesus, is it even so?
Have bee been lovèd thus?
What love can we on Thee bestow
Who hast exchanged with us?
Thou, who our very place didst take,
Dwell in our very heart:
Thou, who Thy portion ours dost make,
Thyself, Thyself impart.
Thomas Gill, 1819–1906
