Verse I -- Luke 9:22-24 ; Luke 23:34 ; John 3:16
To follow Him, the LORD,
Who suffered many things,
Who lived within the world
And pitied all it brings,
One’s life he must disown,
Rejecting earthly gain,
Exchanging for to own
All life eternal fain.
Verse II -- Luke 9:25 , 12:19-20 ; Ecclesiastes 1:2-8; Matthew 7:13
All power o’er the earth,
It lasts but for a day.
Why seek to grow in mirth,
When all will fade away?
Oft’ seeking so to save
An earthly life, its gains,
Leads only to the grave,
And sin’s entangling chains.
Verse III -- Luke 9:26 ; Matthew 7:23 , 10:33 ; Romans 1:20; John 14:6
But who should be ashamed
Of Jesus Christ our King,
Who took sin from the shamed,
Eternal life to bring?
To these the Lord will say,
“I know you not: depart.
You saw the better Way
And loathed Me with your heart”
Verse IV -- Luke 9:22-24 , 23:33 ; Romans 6:23
To follow Him, the LORD,
Hung high upon a tree,
Who did our sin afford
And led us to be free,
One’s cross he is to bear;
His life he is to give
For Jesus, pure and fair:
To lose is but to live.