Hymn Highlight: O Sacred Head Now Wounded

O Sacred Head Now Wounded is one of the older hymns still being regularly sung in churches today. The song was written by Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153). Bernard was a French abbot, known for his support of the Second Crusade and his leadership of the Church during the schism of the 1130s, which resulted in the Second Lateran Council. While Bernard had problematic doctrine on several levels, he is quoted often by the Protestant Reformers (most notably Calvin and Luther) in support of justification by faith alone.

O Sacred Head Now Wounded is Bernard’s most famous hymns. The hymn contains three verses which call the congregation to meditate on the physical suffering endured by Christ on the cross. As Christians, it can be painful to reflect on our Savior on the cross experiencing such great pain. However, the pain endured by Christ was necessary to purchase so full and great a salvation that we’ve experienced. 

The first verse shows the seemingly paradoxical wounding and glorious Christ on the cross. Though Jesus, the sacred Head, is wounded on the cross, he is at the same time maximally glorious. On the cross, Jesus truly was despised and gory, but we can joy to call him “mine.” The death of Christ brings about the death of death, at one time gory and glorious.

The second verse shows the substitutionary nature of the atonement. The singer cries out, “mine, mine was the transgression, but thine the deadly pain.” Surely, on the cross Christ stood condemned in our place, bearing the full wrath of God that we deserved. It was the sin of sinful man that held Christ on the cross, but his love compelled him to bear the weight of sin, and it his love that will vouchsafe to me thy grace.

The third and final verse draws out the response from the singer. How should one rightly respond to reflection upon this gruesome act of covenant love? Read the words of the final verse in full: 

What language shall I borrow

to thank thee, dearest Friend,

for this, thy dying sorrow,

thy pity without end?

O make me thine forever;

and should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never

outlive my love to thee.

Truly, when we gaze at the cross, and at the physical punishment that Christ bore on our behalf, we are wordless in response. May Christ make us his forever, longing to love him more and more.