Must such loveliness be marred?''

Back to THE LOVINGNESS OF JESUS 2

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From Spurgeon's sermon, "JESUS,
THE GREAT OBJECT OF ASTONISHMENT"

That "holy one" which was born of Mary was "seen of
angels," and He charmed their eyes.

Must such loveliness be marred?
His every look was pure,
His every thought was holy,
and therefore the expression of His face must have been
heavenly, and yet it must be marred.

Poverty must mark it;
hunger, and thirst, and weariness must plough it;
heart-grief's must disfigure and scar it;
spittle must stain it;
tears must scald it;
smiting must bruise it;
death must make it pale and bloodless.

Well does Bernard sing--
"O sacred Head, once wounded,
With grief and pain weighed down,
How scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown;
How pale art Thou with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish,
Which once was bright as morn!"