Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

This is a great hymn about Jesus.  It gives a good picture of what He went through at the cross and who He is.  He is such a wonderful friend and Savior.  So humble, so loving.  There are so many good things this hymn points out about Him and what He went through at His crucifixion.  The first line, for instance.  He was stricken for our transgressions, smitten, and afflicted.  What a Savior to endure so much for our transgressions.  It talks about Him bring rejected.  Friends, through fear, disowning Him.  It says "Foes insulting His distress: many hands were raised to wound Him, none would interpose to save."  So many cause Him pain, and none to stand up for Him and help Him.  What this man went through for us, his enemies!  The third verse is so powerful.  It talks about the meaning of this and how we shouldn't take sin lightly, for what these people did, gives sin and evil its true colors.  Sin is evil and horrible and the human nature is twisted.  It talks about how Christ saved us from that and He is now our foundation, rock, salvation, refuge.  So, put your trust in Him for He saved you from sin.  I hope this hymn is as powerful to you as it was to me.    

1. Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, See Him dying on the tree! ’Tis the Christ by man rejected; Yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He! ’Tis the long expected prophet, David’s Son, yet David’s Lord; Proofs I see sufficient of it: ’Tis a true and faithful Word. 2. Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning, Was there ever grief like His? Friends through fear His cause disowning, Foes insulting his distress: Many hands were raised to wound Him, None would interpose to save; But the deepest stroke that pierced Him Was the stroke that Justice gave. 3. Ye who think of sin but lightly, Nor suppose the evil great, Here may view its nature rightly, Here its guilt may estimate. Mark the Sacrifice appointed! See Who bears the awful load! ’Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed, Son of Man, and Son of God.     4. Here we have a firm foundation, Here the refuge of the lost. Christ the Rock of our salvation, Christ the Name of which we boast. Lamb of God for sinners wounded! Sacrifice to cancel guilt! None shall ever be confounded Who on Him their hope have built.