Luke 23:20-24: "20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, 'Crucify, crucify him!' 22 A third time he said to them, 'Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.' 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted."
Isaiah 53:4-6: "4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
John 10:11: "'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.'"
John 10:14-15: "14 'I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.'"
Romans 12:1: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
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The text is public domain:
O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken
That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken?
Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession,
What dark transgression?
They crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge Thee;
With cruel mockings to the cross they urge thee;
They give Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee;
They crucify Thee.
Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish?
It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish;
Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit,
This I do merit.
What punishment so strange is suffered yonder!
The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander;
The Master pays the debt His servants owe Him,
Who would not know Him.
The sinless Son of God must die in sadness;
The sinful child of man may live in gladness;
Man forfeited his life and is acquitted;
God is committed.
There was no spot in me by sin untainted;
Sick with sin's poison, all my heart had fainted;
My heavy guilt to hell had well-nigh brought me,
Such woe is wrought me.
O wondrous love, whose depth no heart hath sounded,
That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded!
All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying
While Thou wert dying.
O mighty King, no time can dim Thy glory!
How shall I spread abroad Thy wondrous story?
How shall I find some worthy gifts to proffer?
What dare I offer?
For vainly doth our human wisdom ponder -
Thy woes, Thy mercy, still transcend our wonder.
Oh, how should I do aught that could delight Thee!
Can I requite Thee?
Yet unrequited, Lord, I would not leave Thee;
I will renounce whate'er doth vex or grieve Thee
And quench with thoughts of Thee and prayers most lowly
All fires unholy.
But since my strength will nevermore suffice me
To crucify desires that still entice me,
To all good deeds O let Thy Spirit win me
And reign within me!
I'll think upon Thy mercy without ceasing,
That earth's vain joys to me no more be pleasing;
To do Thy will shall be my sole endeavor
Henceforth forever.
Whate'er of earthly good this life may grant me,
I'll risk for Thee; no shame, no cross, shall daunt me.
I shall not fear what foes can do to harm me
Nor death alarm me.
But worthless is my sacrifice, I own it;
Yet, Lord, for love's sake Thou wilt not disown it;
Thou wilt accept my gift in Thy great meekness
Nor shame my weakness.
And when, dear Lord, before Thy throne in heaven
To me the crown of joy at least is given,
Where sweetest hymns Thy saints forever raise Thee,
I, too, shall praise Thee.
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The hymn's first verse comes from the Luke text, specifically part of verse 22: "'Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death.'"
The next four verses are drawn primarily from the Isaiah text, although any of the Passion accounts could also be cited for the second verse. "They give Thee gall to drink" is a detail from Matthew 27:34. "The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander" in the fourth verse combines Isaiah 53:6 ("All we like sheep have gone astray") and the two selections from John where Jesus says, "'The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.'"
The tenth through fourteenth verses seem to come from and expand upon "present[ing] your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God" from Romans 12:1.
The next four verses are drawn primarily from the Isaiah text, although any of the Passion accounts could also be cited for the second verse. "They give Thee gall to drink" is a detail from Matthew 27:34. "The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander" in the fourth verse combines Isaiah 53:6 ("All we like sheep have gone astray") and the two selections from John where Jesus says, "'The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.'"
The tenth through fourteenth verses seem to come from and expand upon "present[ing] your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God" from Romans 12:1.
