"Behold The Savior Of Mankind"

Behold The Savior Of Mankind

     Samuel Wesley, Sr. wrote the choir classic, “Behold The Savior Of Mankind.”  The lyrics to this delightful hymn were almost lost forever as well as one of Christianity’s strongest leaders.  In 1709, Samuel and his family lived in Epworth, England.  On February 9^th of that year, a fire destroyed the parsonage in which they lived.  Only two things were saved from the flames, the manuscript for “ Behold The Savior Of Mankind” and his son, John.   A choir of angels surely sang as the future founder of the Methodist denomination was “ plucked out of the burning.”

     John’s brother Charles is known more for being the hymnist, however John was the one that translated the work from German.  It was published in A Collection Of Psalms And Hymns in 1737.  This choir work was originally entitled, “On the Cru­ci­fix­ion.”  Samuel Wesley Sr. wrote only this one hymn, however his contribution to Christianity includes two of the most important names in history.

Behold The Savior Of Mankind

Behold the Savior of mankind
Nailed to the shameful tree!
How vast the love that Him inclined
To bleed and die for thee!

Hark, how He groans, while nature shakes,
And earth's strong pillars bend!
The temple's veil in sunder breaks;
The solid marbles rend.

'Tis done! the precious ransom's paid!
"Receive my soul!" He cries;
See where He bows His sacred head!
He bows His head and dies!

But soon He'll break death's envious chain,
And in full glory shine;
O Lamb of God, was ever pain,
Was ever love, like Thine?

 

     Hen­ry Hud­son wrote the musical score to “ Behold The Savior Of Mankind” in 1885.  He is best known for his work as a choir director and mu­sic pub­lish­er.  Hudson was a lay preach­er for Mt. Un­ion Meth­od­ist Epis­co­pal Church and was a major sup­port­er of the Sal­va­tion Ar­my in the mid-1880’s.

“ Behold The Savior Of Mankind”

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