He began his hold on mankind
In the lush GARDEN OF EDEN of God.
Satan was the tool that gave him power;
Dreadful power on earth's humble sod.

Down through the ages he reigned;
All mankind was subject to him.
Fear, unspeakable fear, caused hearts to tremble
At the mention of his despicable name.

But one day at the climax of history
JESUS, in Whom is all LIFE,
Died in unutterable pain and anguish,
Suffering for all of OUR sin and strife.

He bore in His precious, holy body
Your sin and my sin that day.
The weight of the sins of all mankind
His Father on Him did lay.

And then, turning His back on His Beloved,
With great LOVE for the children of men,
The FULL WRATH of God's judgment fell on His Son,
Who was dying for ALL OF MANKIND'S SIN!

Yes, the cesspool of mankind was uncovered,
And all of its filth heaped on our Lord.
God's holy wrath was unleshed on that sin-burdened back;
Jesus bore all, not saying a word.

He bore excruciating pain and deep anguish;
All caused by our sin and its shame.
Being led as a Lamb to the slaughter;
He suffered all, His world to reclaim.

The angels and the hosts of Heaven
Looked on in reverance and awe.
Their Maker, dying for His humans!
This is what their wondering eyes saw.

Earth shook, in spasms of pain,
As its Maker hung, bleeding and still.
The sun covered her face; darkness fell like a shroud.
Death thought he had accomplished his will.

For three torturous days Death triumphed.
"I KNEW I would always be king!"
Bu the GIVER OF LIFE could not be held in death's claws,
And the angels GREAT TIDINGS did bring!

The GIVER and SOURCE of all life
Could never be contained in a grave.
HE AROSE IN GREAT TRIUMPH AND POWER,
AND HE IS ALMIGHTY TO SAVE!

When He shouted from that cross, "IT IS FINISHED!"
The words echoed around the whole world;
Satan and death were defeated,
And ETERNAL LIFE'S BANNER was unfurled!

O DEATH, where is thy sting?
Christ took the sting from that fraud.
And now that his power is gone,
He lies dead, by the power of God.

Death is swallowed up in great victory!
Salvation is ours, full and free.
Death convulsed in great agony but his feeble effort to live
Was crushed forever at Calvary!

YES, DEATH DIED A HORRIBLE DEATH;
All Creation can rejoice and sing!
There is no more fear or dread of the tomb,
SOURCE OF ALL LIFE REIGNS FOREVER AS KING!