Come and hear the grand old story,
Story of the ages past;
All earth’s annals far surpassing,
Story that shall ever last.

Refrain

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.

Refrain

Here in David’s lowly city,
Tenant of the manger-bed,
Child of ev­er­last­ing ages,
Mary’s infant, lays His head.

Refrain

There He lies, in mighty weakness,
David’s Lord and David’s Son;
Creature and Creator meeting,
Heaven and earth conjoined in one.

Refrain

Here at Nazareth He dwelleth,
’Mid the sin of sinful men;
Sorrowful, forlorn, and hated,
And yet hating none again.

Refrain

Here in Ga­li­lee He wanders,
Through its teeming cities moves,
Climbs its mountains, walks its waters,
Blesses, comforts, saves, and loves.

Refrain

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.

Refrain

In Geth­se­ma­ne behold Him
In the agony of prayer;
Kneeling, pleading, groaning, bleeding,
Soul and body prostrate there.

Refrain

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.

Refrain

In the Roman hall behold Him
Stand at Pilate’s judg­ment-seat,
Mocked and beaten, crowned and wounded;
Jew and Gentile join in hate.

Refrain

On to Golgotha He hastens,
Yonder stands His cross of woe;
From His hands, and feet, and forehead,
See the precious life-blood flow.

Refrain

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.

Refrain

It is finished! See His body
Laid alone in Joseph’s tomb;
’Tis for us He lieth yonder,
Prince of Light enwrapt in gloom.

Refrain

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.

Refrain

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.

Refrain

’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.

Refrain

Hear we then the grand old story,
And in listening learn the love,
Flowing through it to the guilty,
From our pardoning God above.

Refrain

Glory be to God the Fa­ther,
Glory be to God the Son,
Glory be to God the Spi­rit,
Great Je­ho­vah, Three in One.

Refrain