Charles Wesley - Holy Lamb, Who Thee Receive Lyrics

Meaning & Inspiration

While the digital release date of May 30, 2021, marks a contemporary availability or recording of this timeless work, Charles Wesley’s profound hymn, "Holy Lamb, Who Thee Receive," has resonated with believers for centuries, standing as a testament to his unparalleled spiritual insight and poetic genius. Composed by one of the most prolific hymn writers in Christian history, this piece emerges from the heart of the 18th-century Methodist revival, a movement characterized by deep personal conviction, an earnest pursuit of holiness, and an experiential understanding of God's grace. The hymn's enduring power lies in its direct, passionate address to Jesus Christ, inviting the worshipper into a journey of profound spiritual transformation, from the initial yearning for God to the ultimate doxology of divine praise.

The narrative woven through "Holy Lamb, Who Thee Receive" begins with a foundational truth: Jesus as the sacrificial "Lamb of God," a concept deeply rooted in both Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment, notably highlighted in John 1:29. The opening lines immediately declare the aspiration of those who "receive" Christ and "begin to live" in Him, voicing a fervent desire to emulate His divine nature, crying out, "As thou art, so let us be!" This yearning for Christ-likeness echoes Paul's exhortation in Romans 8:29, that we are to be "conformed to the image of His Son," and the comforting assurance in 1 John 3:2 that one day "we shall be like Him." It is a prayer for sanctification, an ongoing process where the divine life takes root and blossoms within the human spirit.

The hymn then transitions into a deeply personal plea, a soul-baring confession of longing and dependency. The worshipper cries out, "Jesu, see my panting breast! See I pant in thee to rest!" This imagery vividly recalls the psalmist's desperate thirst for God, like a deer longing for streams of water in Psalm 42:1. It expresses a profound spiritual weariness that finds its sole repose in Christ, drawing strength from Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28 to "come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." This rest is inseparable from cleansing, as the subsequent lines implore, "Cleanse me now from every sin," a direct appeal for the purifying power of Christ's sacrifice, promised to those who confess their sins in 1 John 1:9.

The journey continues with a recognition of human fragility and the constant battle against worldly entanglements. "Fix, O fix my wavering mind! To thy cross my spirit bind," is a prayer for steadfastness, an earnest plea for divine focus amidst life's distractions. It speaks to the heart's tendency to stray, seeking instead to be anchored firmly to the central event of Christian faith – the cross of Christ, where our old self is crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20). The hymn yearns for the removal of "earthly passions" and for the soul to be "swallowed up in love," reflecting Paul's counsel to "set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2), and to be saturated by the divine love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

Wesley further underscores humanity's humble state, acknowledging, "Dust and ashes though we be, Full of sin and misery," a stark reminder of our creatureliness and fallen nature (Genesis 18:27, Romans 3:23). Yet, in a powerful declaration of redemption, the hymn asserts, "Thine we are, thou Son of God! Take the purchase of thy blood!" This transformative realization embraces the biblical truth that believers are "bought with a price" – the precious blood of Jesus – and therefore belong entirely to Him (1 Corinthians 6:20, Ephesians 1:7). It is a surrender of self, acknowledging divine ownership and the immeasurable cost of salvation.

The hymn then proclaims the glorious outcome of faith: "Who in heart on thee believes, He the atonement now receives, He with joy beholds thy face, Triumphs in thy pardoning grace." This stanza beautifully articulates the immediate and experiential nature of salvation. Belief in the heart, as described in Romans 10:9, leads directly to receiving "reconciliation" or atonement (Romans 5:11), bringing with it an unshakeable joy and triumph in God's freely given grace. It is a present reality, not just a future hope, experiencing the peace with God that faith provides (Romans 5:1).

With an evangelistic fervor, Wesley extends an invitation: "See, ye sinners, see the flame, Rising from the slaughtered Lamb, Marks the new, the living way, Leading to eternal day!" The imagery of the "flame" evokes both the divine acceptance of the sacrifice and the burning truth that illuminates the path to salvation. It calls all to witness the singular, transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice, which established a "new and living way" into the presence of God (Hebrews 10:19-20), a path exclusively found through Jesus, who declared Himself to be "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).

The experience of this divine truth leads to an overwhelming spiritual response: "Jesus, when this light we see, All our soul's athirst for thee; When thy quickening power we prove, All our heart dissolves in love." This profound encounter brings about a deep, insatiable spiritual hunger for God, echoing the thirst for living water promised by Jesus in John 7:37-38. The "quickening power" refers to the Holy Spirit's life-giving work, making us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1), and this spiritual awakening culminates in a heart overflowing with love, a love that is a direct response to God's prior love for us (1 John 4:19).

The hymn culminates in a magnificent doxology, praising the inexhaustible attributes of God: "Boundless wisdom, power divine, Love unspeakable are thine: Praise by all to thee be given, Sons of earth, and hosts of heaven!" It acknowledges God's infinite wisdom, His omnipotent power, and His indescribable love, attributes that compel all creation to worship. This universal call to praise mirrors the cosmic worship described in Revelation 5:12-13, where every creature in heaven and on earth proclaims the worthiness of the Lamb. "Holy Lamb, Who Thee Receive" is not merely a song; it is a spiritual journey, a fervent prayer, a theological treatise, and a passionate declaration of faith, inviting every soul to embrace the saving, sanctifying, and glorious truth of Jesus Christ. Its profound scriptural roots and timeless message continue to inspire and challenge believers to pursue a deeper, more intimate relationship with the "Holy Lamb."