O Teach Me What It Meaneth

Representative Text

1. O teach me what it meaneth,
That cross uplifted high,
With One, the Man of Sorrows,
Condemned to bleed and die!
O teach me what it cost Thee
To make a sinner whole;
And teach me, Savior, teach me
The value of a soul!

2. O teach me what it meaneth,
That sacred crimson tide,
The blood and water flowing
From Thine own wounded side.
Teach me that if none other
Had sinned, but I alone,
Yet still Thy blood, Lord Jesus,
Thine only, must atone.

3. O teach me what it meaneth,
Thy love beyond compare,
The love that reacheth deeper
Than depths of self-despair!
Yes, teach me, till there gloweth
In this cold heart of mine
Some feeble, pale reflection
Of that pure love of Thine.

4. O teach me what it meaneth,
For I am full of sin,
And grace alone can reach me,
And love alone can win.
O teach me, for I need Thee,
I have no hope beside—
The chief of all the sinners
For whom the Savior died!

5. O teach me what it meaneth
The rest which Thou dost give
To all the heavy-laden
Who look to Thee and live.
Because I am a rebel
Thy pardon I receive
Because Thou dost command me,
I can, I do believe.

6. O infinite Redeemer!
I bring no other plea;
Because Thou dost invite me
I cast myself on Thee.
Because Thou dost accept me
I love and I adore;
Because Thy love constraineth,
I’ll praise Thee evermore!

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #5361

Author: Lucy A. Bennett

Lucy A. Bennett was born on January 8, 1850 in Green Farm, Falfield, Glou­ces­ter­shire, Eng­land. She was a staunch Methodist and a poet. She began to write poems, hymns and prose at an early age. As a young woman, she attended Keswick Conventions where she met and corresponded with prominent Christian leaders, including Christina Rosseti and C. H. Spurgeon. She was active at Mount Pleasant Chapel where she arranged for ministers, led a Bible Class for women, and visited and helped the poor and needy. She helped to found All Nations College, Upper Norwood and Mount Hermon College, Streatham Common. She died on March 10, 1927 Dianne Shapiro, from Mid-Victorian Poetry, 1860-1879: an annotated biobiliography by Catherine W. Reilly (Lon… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O teach me what it meaneth
Title: O Teach Me What It Meaneth
Author: Lucy A. Bennett
Meter: 7.6.7.6 D
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

RUTHERFORD (Urhan)


WILLIAMWOOD


PASSION CHORALE (Hassler)

The tune HERZLICH TUT MICH VERLANGEN has been associated with Gerhardt's text ["O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden"] since they were first published together in 1656. The tune's first association with a sacred text was its attachment in 1913 [sic: should read 1613] to Christoph Knoll's funeral text "Herzl…

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The Cyber Hymnal #5361
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Complete Mission Praise #521

Living Hymns #126

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The Cyber Hymnal #5361

Include 5 pre-1979 instances
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