Others

"He saved others; Himself He cannot save..."
— Matthew 27:42a

Spoken by the crowd, deriding,
To the blessed Lord,
Yet what depth of truth lay hidden
In the taunting word.

"He saved others,"—yes, for truly
To that end He came,
Thirty years He toiled with others,
Bore an unknown name.

Three short years of ceaseless service,
Healing day by day
Sin-sick souls, and suffering bodies
Thronging round His way.

Saving others, while aweary
Sat He by the well,
Still His lips of Living Waters
Must the thirsty tell.

Saving others, tho’ in slumber
Sought He brief repose,
At the anguished cry "Lord, save us,"
Straightway He arose.

Saving others, when the desert
And its peace He sought,
There to find a throng awaiting
Eager to be taught.

Thus throughout His earthly journey
Was His life laid down,
Till the awful cross of Calvary
Was its seal and crown.

"He saved others," yet His own life
Could he never save,—
Could not, brethren, for He would not,
Thus Himself He gave.

Had He saved Himself, we never
Had salvation known,
Death and darkness then our portion,
Now to share His throne.

Would we follow in His footsteps?
In His service share?
Then for us it standeth written
We His cross must bear.

He who seeks his life to save it,
He shall suffer loss:
He who spends his life for Christ’s sake,
Finds it thro’ the cross.

"He saved others,"—may it echo
In our hearts each day,
‘Till His love all selfish pleasing
Purge for aye away.

Till possessed with holy passion
Other lives to save,
We partake His life and Spirit
Who “so loved He gave.”