Graham Kendrick - Come See The Beauty of The Lord Lyrics
Lyrics
Come see the beauty of the Lord
Come see the beauty of His face
See the lamb that once was slain
See on His palms is carved your name
See how our pain has pierced His heart
And on his brow He bears our pride
A crown of thorns
But only love pours from His heart
As silently He takes the blame
He has my name upon his lips
My condemnation falls on Him
This love is marvellous to me
His sacrifice has set me free
And now I live
Come see the beauty of the Lord
Come see the beauty of His face
Video
Come and See by UK worship leader Graham Kendrick. Easter worship song for the church. Lyric Video.
Meaning & Inspiration
Graham Kendrick’s "Come See The Beauty of The Lord," released on March 22, 2018, stands as a profoundly moving invitation to contemplate the heart of Christian faith. This Easter worship song for the church, delivered with Kendrick's characteristic depth and theological insight, aims to draw worshipers into a focused meditation on the person and work of Jesus Christ, particularly His sacrifice and resurrection. It functions not merely as a song to be sung, but as a guided reflection, urging a deeper understanding and appreciation of God's redemptive love.
The core meaning of the song lies in its compelling call to *see*—an active, spiritual observation of Jesus. It invites us to "Come see the beauty of the Lord, come see the beauty of His face," which isn't a call to physical sight, but to an inner vision of His character, holiness, and matchless love. This beauty is starkly revealed in His identity as "the Lamb that once was slain," echoing powerful biblical imagery found in passages like John 1:29, where John the Baptist declares, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" and Revelation 5:12, proclaiming the Lamb worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and praise. This immediate connection roots the song in the foundational truth of Christ's atoning sacrifice, setting the stage for a journey into the depths of His passion.
The lyrics then personalize this cosmic sacrifice, urging us to "See on His palms is carved your name." This evocative imagery goes beyond mere recognition, bringing to mind Isaiah 49:16, where God declares, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." It speaks to an intimate, unbreakable bond, signifying that Christ's suffering was not a generic act but a deeply personal one undertaken for each individual. The song continues, illuminating the profound empathy of Christ: "See how our pain has pierced His heart, and on his brow He bears our pride, a crown of thorns." This passage powerfully connects the physical agony of the crucifixion—the "crown of thorns" (Matthew 27:29)—with the spiritual burdens of humanity. Our "pain" and "pride" are identified as the very instruments that afflicted Him, highlighting the substitutionary nature of His suffering. He didn't just endure a physical beating; He bore the emotional and spiritual weight of our rebellion and brokenness, allowing our sin to pierce His very being, fulfilling prophecies found in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53.
Crucially, amidst this depiction of immense suffering, the song pivots to reveal the ultimate motivation: "But only love pours from His heart, as silently He takes the blame." This line underscores the divine, unconditional love that compelled Jesus to willingly embrace such torment. His silent endurance is not a passive act but a deliberate, loving choice to fulfill God's redemptive plan. The lyrics then move from collective suffering to individual redemption: "He has my name upon his lips, my condemnation falls on Him." This deeply personal confession captures the essence of substitutionary atonement. Christ, bearing the sin of humanity, willingly absorbed the judgment meant for us, effectively fulfilling passages like 2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God," and Romans 8:1, which declares, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
The transformative power of this sacrifice is celebrated in the subsequent lines: "This love is marvellous to me, His sacrifice has set me free, and now I live." The word "marvellous" perfectly encapsulates the overwhelming wonder and gratitude felt by one who truly grasps the magnitude of Christ's love, echoing Ephesians 2:4-5, which speaks of God's "great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ." The freedom mentioned is not merely from external bondage but from the crushing weight of sin and its consequences, aligning with John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed," and Galatians 5:1. The declaration "and now I live" signifies a new, vibrant spiritual existence, a resurrection life lived in Christ, as articulated in Romans 6:4 and Galatians 2:20. The song concludes by reiterating the initial invitation: "Come see the beauty of the Lord, come see the beauty of His face," reinforcing the central theme and calling for continued contemplation and worship of the One whose suffering brought salvation and new life. This song is a profound theological statement set to music, designed to not only inform but also to transform hearts by fixing our gaze on the incomparable beauty of Christ's redemptive love.