Jesus spreads His banner over us
Author: Roswell Park
Jesus spreads his banner o’er us,
Cheers our famished souls with food;
He the banquet spreads before us,
Of His mystic flesh and blood.
Precious banquet, bread of heaven,
Wine of gladness, flowing free;
May we taste it, kindly given,
In remembrance, Lord, of Thee.
In Thy holy incarnation,
When the angels sang Thy birth;
In Thy fasting and temptation,
In Thy labors on the earth,
In Thy trial and rejection,
In Thy sufferings on the tree,
In Thy glorious resurrection,
May we, Lord, remember Thee.
The usually omitted first verse:
While the sons of earth retiring,
From the sacred temple roam;
Lord, Thy light and love desiring,
To Thine altar fain we come.
Children of our heavenly Father,
Friends and brethren we would be;
While we round Thy table gather,
May our hearts be one in Thee.
An alternative translation
Lord, You’ve raised love’s banner o’er us,
We enjoy Your feast of love;
As redemption’s work we ponder,
How our heart is deeply moved.
On the table are the symbols,
Bread and cup, Your love displayed;
Now as one we come to worship
And as one receive Your grace.
We recall how You descended,
As a slave You bore distress;
You were tested, often fasted,
With no place Your head to rest.
How You came, lost sinners seeking,
Suffering scorn and hunger’s pain;
Counting one repentant sinner
Fully worth the blood You shed.
We recall Your crucifixion,
God-forsaken, man-condemned,
You alone bought our redemption,
Boundless love exhibited.
Resurrected, You ascended,
At God’s right hand intercede;
As You’ve promised, You’ll accomplish:
Lord, come soon, our joy complete!
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