"To Jordan came our Lord the Christ."
                     by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
                             Text From:
                    THE HYMNS OF MARTIN LUTHER
        (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1883), pp. 68-69



        1. To Jordan came our Lord the Christ,
        To do God's pleasure willing,
        And there was by Saint John baptized,
        All righteousness fulfilling;
        There did he consecrate a bath
        To wash away transgression,
        And quench the bitterness of death
        By his own blood and passion;
        He would a new life give us.

        2. So hear ye all, and well perceive
        What God doth call baptism,
        And what a Christian should believe
        Who error shuns and schism:
        That we should water use, the Lord
        Declareth it his pleasure;
        Not simple water, but the Word
        And Spirit without measure;
        He is the true Baptizer.

        3. To show us this, he hath his word
        With signs and symbols given;
        On Jordan's banks was plainly heard
        The Father's voice from heaven:
        "This is my well-beloved Son,
        In whom my soul delighteth;
        Hear him." Yea, hear him every one
        Whom he himself inviteth,
        Hear and obey his teaching.

        4. In tender manhood Jesus straight
        To holy Jordan wendeth;
        The Holy Ghost from heaven's gate
        In dovelike shape descendeth;
        That thus the truth be not denied,
        Nor should our faith e'er waver,
        That the Three Persons all preside,
        At Baptism's holy laver,
        And dwell with the believer.

        5. Thus Jesus his disciples sent:
        Go teach ye every nation,
        That lost in sin they must repent;
        And flee from condemnation:
        He that believes and is baptized,
        Obtains a mighty blessing;
        A new-born man, no more he dies,
        Eternal life possessing,
        A joyful heir of heaven.

        6. Who in this mercy hath not faith,
        Nor aught therein discerneth,
        Is yet in sin, condemned to death,
        And fire that ever burneth;
        His holiness avails him not,
        Nor aught which he is doing;
        His inborn sin brings all to naught,
        And maketh sure his ruin;
        Himself he cannot succor.

        7. The eye of sense alone is dim,
        And nothing sees but water;
        Faith sees Christ Jesus, and in him
        The lamb ordained for slaughter;
        She sees the cleansing fountain red
        With the dear blood of Jesus,
        Which from the sins inherited
        From fallen Adam frees us,
        And from our own misdoings.

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        Notes:
        Hymn XXXIV from "The Hymns of Martin Luther"
        Author: Martin Luther
        Translated by: Richard Massie, amended
        Titled: "Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam."
        Melody: known also by the title, "Es soll uns Gott genaedig sein", 1525
        Harmony: A. Haupt, 1869
        1st Published in: Klug's "Gesangbuch," 1543
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
        by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain.  You may
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        comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
        Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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