Jesus, in Your Dying Woes

The hymn "Jesus, in Your Dying Woes" (LSB 447) features the seven last words of Christ upon the cross and engage the sinner in a personal way with Jesus' dying words from the cross: "Father, forgive them" (Luke 23:34); "Today you will be with Me in paradise" (Luke 23:43); "Woman, behold, your son!... Behold, your mother!" (John 19:26-27); "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46); "I thirst" (John 19:26); "It is finished" (John 19:30); and "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!" (Luke 23:46)

The faithful then pray, again and again, "Hear us, holy Jesus."

With Christ's sixth word, "It is finished," the vicarious atonement is accomplished, and the redemptive ransom is paid. (We will know this is truly finished in three days.)

In life or death, God supplies "grace to live and grace to die, grace to reach the home on high." And with one last plea and the promise of the Gospel, the Church sings, "Hear us, holy Jesus."

1 First Word: Luke 23:34
Jesus, in Your dying woes,
Even while Your lifeblood flows,
Craving pardon for Your foes:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

2 Savior, for our pardon sue
When our sins Your pangs renew,
For we know not what we do:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

3 Oh, may we, who mercy need,
Be like You in heart and deed,
When with wrong our spirits bleed:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

4 Second Word: Luke 23:43
Jesus, pitying the sighs
Of the thief, who near You dies,
Promising him paradise:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

5 May we in our guilt and shame
Still Your love and mercy claim,
Calling humbly on Your name:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

6 May our hearts to You incline
And their thoughts Your cross entwine.
Cheer our souls with hope divine:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

7 Third Word: John 19:26–27
Jesus, loving to the end
Her whose heart Your sorrows rend,
And Your dearest human friend:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

8 May we in Your sorrows share,
For Your sake all peril dare,
And enjoy Your tender care:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

9 May we all Your loved ones be,
All one holy family,
Loving, since Your love we see:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

10 Fourth Word: Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34
Jesus, whelmed in fears unknown,
With our evil left alone,
While no light from heav’n is shown:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

11 When we seem in vain to pray
And our hope seems far away,
In the darkness be our stay:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

12 Though no Father seem to hear,
Though no light our spirits cheer,
May we know that God is near:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

13 Fifth Word: John 19:28
Jesus, in Your thirst and pain,
While Your wounds Your lifeblood drain,
Thirsting more our love to gain:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

14 Thirst for us in mercy still;
All Your holy work fulfill;
Satisfy Your loving will:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

15 May we thirst Your love to know.
Lead us in our sin and woe
Where the healing waters flow:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

16 Sixth Word: John 19:30
Jesus, all our ransom paid,
All Your Father’s will obeyed;
By Your suff’rings perfect made:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

17 Save us in our soul’s distress;
Be our help to cheer and bless
While we grow in holiness:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

18 Brighten all our heav’nward way
With an ever holier ray
Till we pass to perfect day:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

19 Seventh Word: Luke 23:46
Jesus, all Your labor vast,
All Your woe and conflict past,
Yielding up Your soul at last:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

20 When the death shades round us low’r,
Guard us from the tempter’s pow’r,
Keep us in that trial hour:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

21 May Your life and death supply
Grace to live and grace to die,
Grace to reach the home on high:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

Text: Public domain