WHAT HAST THOU DONE?

What hast Thou done, Thow God of Love,
That Thou shouldst leave Thy throne above,
Thy throne of everlasting light,
Which never saw the shades of night?

What hast Thou done to come on earth,
And there to take a human birth,
To live in brief and sorrows too,
Though Thy dear soul no evil knew?

What hast Thou done, that Thou shouldst live
A life so pure, yet wounds receive,
That Thou shouldst be so poor indeed,
Whilst Thou couldst many thousands feed?

What hast Thou done, Thou mighty Head
That thou shouldst be in want of bread?
Why wast Thou tempted day and night
Thou great, eternal God of might?

What hast Thou done, Thou harmless Lamb,
But good in this one sinful land?
Why do men seek Thee day by day
To take Thy sinless life away?

What hast Thou done, Thou conquering Lord,
That men should stone Thee for Thy Word?
Is it for Thy good workds on earth,
Healing, forgiving, calling forth?

What hast Thou done, that Thou are found
In that sad garden on the ground;
There praying groaning as Thou are,
What is it, Lord, that pains Thy heart?

What hast Thou done, Thou God of power,
That this is their most dreadful hour?
Hast Thou not power, Thou Lord of all,
That all Thy foes may backwards fall?

What hast Thou done, Thou Morning Star?
Why art Thou brought to Pilate’s bar,
There to have sentence passed on Thee,
That Thou must die upon a tree?

What hast Thou done, Thou God of grace,
For men to spit in Thy dear face,
For men to smite Thee on the cheek,
And Thou dost not reviling speak?

What hast Thou done, O King of kings,
That Thou must suffer all these things?
Thou Saviour of Thy chosen race,
Art Thou now in the sinner’s place?

What hast Thou done, incarnate God,
To shed Thy rich, free, flowing blood?
Why is Thy dear flesh wounded so,
Whilst thieves are now reviling to?

What hast Thou done, incarnate Word,
For Justice now to take the sword,
And smite Thee even unto death?
O let me hear Thy parting breath.

What hast Thou done, Thou rising Sun,
That Thy race here is so soon run?
Wilt Thou not now arise and shine,
At times, on these dear saints of Thine?

What hast Thou done, mighty to save?
Why art Thou brought to the cold grave?
Corruption there Thou shalt not see,
But grave’s destruction Thou wilt be.

What hast Thou done e’en now to rise,
And show Thy power through earth and skie?
Art Thou not He who once was dead,
But know Thy church’s living  Head?

What hast Thou done, Thou sinner’s Friend,
That Thou dost now on high ascend?
Return, dear Lord, whene’er Thou wilt
And ease Thy people of their guilt.

What hast Thou done, Thou First and Last,
That Thou in earth and heaven hast
Power over all, angels and men,
And devils now henceforth? Amen.

_____________________________

John Kemp (1850-1932),
Pastor at Biddenden for fifty-two years