Behold the Lamb of God!
This hymn expresses the Lutheran doctrine of Christ as the Lamb of God whose substitutionary sacrifice accomplishes redemption through the shedding of His blood. It emphasizes penitential faith in Christ's atoning work, central to Lutheran understanding of justification and reconciliation with God.
History & Background
Written by Scottish Free Church minister Horatius Bonar in 1846, this hymn became widely used in evangelical Protestant worship throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. It first appeared in various hymnals and was included in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) as hymn 165.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 340
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 165
Bulletin Note
Written by Scottish minister Horatius Bonar in 1846, this hymn anchors worship in the paschal mystery—Christ as the Lamb whose blood cleanses all sin. Its simple 7.7.7.7 meter makes it memorable for all ages.
Preaching Connection
This hymn deepens a sermon on Christ's atoning work by holding together the weight of human sin (law) and the liberating power of Christ's blood (gospel), making visible the heart of Lutheran justification theology.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: acknowledgment of universal sin, appeal to Christ's sacrificial work, petition for mercy and peace
Themes
Christ's redemptive sacrifice Atonement through Christ's blood Penitence and faith Substitutionary atonement