The Old Story

Come and hear the grand old sto­ry

Story of the ag­es past;

All earth’s an­nals far sur­pass­ing

Story that shall ev­er last.

Noblest

tru­est

old­est

new­est

Fairest

rar­est

sad­dest

glad­dest

That this earth has ev­er known.

Christ

the Fa­ther’s Son eter­nal

Once was born

a Son of man;

He

who nev­er knew be­gin­ning

Here on earth a life be­gan.

Here in Da­vid’s low­ly ci­ty

Tenant of the man­ger-bed

Child of ev­er­last­ing ag­es

Mary’s in­fant

lays His head.

There He lies

in migh­ty weak­ness

David’s Lord and Da­vid’s Son;

Creature and Cre­at­or meet­ing

Heav’n and earth con­joined in one.

Here at Na­za­reth He dwell­eth

’Mid the sin of sin­ful men;

Sorrowful

for­lorn

and hat­ed

And yet hat­ing none again.

Here in Ga­li­lee He wan­ders

Through its teem­ing ci­ties moves

Climbs its mount­ains

walks its wa­ters

Blesses

com­forts

saves

and loves.

Words of truth and deeds of kind­ness

Miracles of grace and might

Scatter frag­rance all around Him

Shine with Heav’n’s most glo­ri­ous light.

In Geth­se­ma­ne be­hold Him

In the ago­ny of pray­er;

Kneeling

plead­ing

groan­ing

bleed­ing

Soul and bo­dy pros­trate there.

All alone He wrest­les yon­der

Close be­side Him stands the cup

Bitterest cup that man e’er tast­ed

Yet for us He drinks it up.

In the Ro­man hall be­hold Him

Stand at Pi­late’s judg­ment-seat

Mocked and beat­en

Crowned and wound­ed;

Jew and Gen­tile join in hate.

On to Gol­go­tha He hast­ens

Yonder stands His cross of woe;

From His hands

and feet

and fore­head

See the pre­cious life-blood flow.

Sinless

He our sin is bear­ing

All our sor­rows on Him lie

And His stripes our wounds are heal­ing

God

for man

con­sents to die.

It is fin­ished! See His bo­dy

Laid alone in Jo­seph’s tomb;

’Tis for us He li­eth yon­der

Prince of Light en­wrapt in gloom.

But in vain the grave has bound Him

Death has barred its gate in vain;

See

for us the Sav­ior ris­es

See

for us He bursts the chain.

Hear we then the grand old sto­ry

True as God’s all-faith­ful Word

Best of tid­ings to the guil­ty

Of a dead and ris­en Lord.

’Tis eter­nal life to know it

Light and love are shin­ing there

While we look

and gaze

and list­en

All its joy and peace we share.

Hear we then the grand old sto­ry

And in list­en­ing learn the love

Flowing through it to the guil­ty

From our par­don­ing God ab­ove.

Glory be to God the Fa­ther

Glory be to God the Son

Glory be to God the Spir­it

Great Je­ho­vah

Three in One.