1. Up Calvary's mountain, one dreadful morn, Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn; Facing for sinners death on the cross, That He might save them from endless loss. 2. "Father forgive them!" thus did He pray, E'en while His lifeblood flowed fast away; Praying for sinners while in such woe No one but Jesus ever loved so. 3. O how I love Him, Savior and Friend, How can my praises ever find end! Through years unnumbered on Heaven's shore, My tongue shall praise Him forevermore. Chorus: Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer! Seems now I see Him on Calvary's tree; Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading, Blind and unheeding dying for me!
Lyrics: Avis Marguerite Burgeson Christiansen
Music: Harry Dixon Loes
Tune: REDEEMER
Avis B. Christiansen, 1895–1985
The composer of this hymn, Harry Dixon Loes, was a popular music teacher at the Moody Bible Institute from 1939 until his death in 1965. One day while listening to a sermon on the subject of Christ’s atonement entitled “Blessed Redeemer,” Mr. Loes was inspired to compose this tune. He then sent the melody with the suggested title to Mrs. Christiansen, a friend for many years, asking her to write the text. The completed hymn first appeared in the hymnal Songs of Redemption in 1920.
Mrs. Avis Christiansen can be ranked as one of the most important gospel hymn writers of the 20th century. She wrote hundreds of gospel hymn texts, as well as several volumes of published poems. Throughout her long lifetime of 90 years, Mrs. Christiansen collaborated with many well-known gospel musicians to contribute several other popular hymns to our hymnals, including “Blessed Calvary” and “I Know I’ll See Jesus Some Day.”