Hymn of the Week

Since watching a documentary on Joni Eareckson Tada on Day of Discovery by RBC Ministries, I have been captivated by the hymn, Man of Sorrows.  Mrs. Tada is a Christian who became paralyzed from the neck down after a diving accident in the Chesapeake Bay while only a teenager.  She has spent her life ministering to people who suffer, especially those with disabilities.  She has many talents including singing, drawing with her mouth, speaking, and writing books.  Mrs. Tada told a story about how a friend helped her while she was suffering by singing this hymn.

One night my high school friend Jackie, with whom I shared boyfriends, milkshakes, and hockey sticks, came into the hospital late one night, like 2 in the morning, past visiting hours. The nurses were on break. No one was in the hallway. She crept up the steps of the hospital, snuck in the back way, came into my six-bed ward. I was with five other spinal-cord-injured girls who were all asleep. My friend came sneaking into the room, crawling on her hands and knees. She came over to my bed, stood up slowly, and lowered the guard rail of the hospital bed. Just like high schoolers will do on pajama sleepovers, she climbed into bed next to me, snuggled real close, and softly began to sing: “Man of sorrows, what a name. For the Son of God who came, ruined sinners to reclaim. Hallelujah, what a Savior.” ~Joni Eareckson Tada, World Magazine interview by Marvin Olasky, Jan. 12, 2013

Last year I taught the Sunday School kids this hymn that they sang for Easter Sunday. It tells us the story of Jesus Christ who died and rose again to save us from the penalty for our sins through faith in Him.  Here are the words:

Man of Sorrows

words by Philip P. Bliss, 1875

Man of sorrows what a name
for the Son of God, who came
ruined sinners to reclaim:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
in my place condemned he stood,
sealed my pardon with his blood:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Guilty, helpless, lost were we;
blameless Lamb of God was he,
sacrificed to set us free:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

He was lifted up to die;
"It is finished" was his cry;
now in heaven exalted high:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious King,
all his ransomed home to bring,
then anew this song we'll sing:
Hallelujah, what a Savior! 

Sung by Joni Eareckson Tada