How Awesome Is That Day to Me

How awesome is that day to me- 

O day of hallowed history! 

Set time in God’s determined plan 

To sacrifice the Son of Man. 

What famous work that day was done  

By Jesus Christ, His Perfect Son! 

The Second Adam, sent to save, 

Humbly obeying to the grave! 

 

How savage is that day to me- 

O day of pure brutality! 

When Christ, the Son of God Most High, 

Was fiercely whipped and hung to die. 

And O the horror of my sin, 

Seen there in His appalling skin! 

For God struck down- as meant for me- 

The sinless One, at Calvary. 

 

How precious is that day to me-

O day of purchased liberty!

In Him, a freeman now I live;

My sins, through death, did God forgive.

No wrath at length looms o’er my head,

But lovingkindness there instead. 

His righteousness, my guilt replaced, 

And Love, this ransomed soul embraced!

 

O awesome, savage, precious day- 

‘Tis God the Savior on display! 

What peerless, holy, gracious Mind 

Would fashion such a Grand Design?

 

 

-- K. Hartnett, September 2001

 

The idea for this poem came to me during a devotional time over lunch.  I remember thinking that I hadn't written anything for a while and desired to write something hymn-like.  This was the result - a poem that 'came' very quickly - in just a few days.  I initially thought it should have additional stanzas, but left it at three so that it was short enough to be read in a worship service and not get boring.  I think it actually could be set to music, but perhaps with a different, less contemplative chorus.