He walked by the river where the crowds had gone

1 He walked by the river where the crowds had gone
for the word of the Lord from a man named John;
his path would be taking him where no man trod,
for John said, 'This is the Lamb of God!'
Come, see the sacrificial Lamb,
Son of the Father, the One I AM!
But no-one heard the prophecy of death
they called him Jesus of Nazareth.

2 He walked into Galilee to shine God's light,
and the sunrise dawned on the people of the night.
He healed their diseases and he raised their dead;
'The kingdom of God has arrived!' he said.
Come near, and listen to his word;
no-one is like him, he must be heard:
and those who come he never turns away,
so come to meet him and come today.

3 He walked to Jerusalem, the road of pain,
and they spat at the king and they laughed at his reign:
they gave him a reed and a robe and a crown;
he gave to them his life laid down.
Come, look - he's hanging from a tree!
Look in the Scriptures - come and see;
to bear our sins he bled and died:
but the tomb where they laid him is open wide!

4 He walked to the hill where the olives grew
and he left us a gift and some travelling to do:
'My Spirit will come, my power will bless,
and you will be my witnesses.'
Come, trust in everything he says
turn to the Saviour, and change your ways;
you'll always find his promises are true
when you love the Lord who has first loved you.

Christopher Idle
© Christopher Idle / Jubilate Hymns
Suggested tune: SHAKER TUNE