“Lord Jesus, You Came Down” (2001)
This is a hymn I wrote in October 2001. Take a look at the hymnal page (Acrobat Reader required). Listen to a choppy and imprecise 
sequence (my notation software is cheap!) of CLOWNEY, a tune I wrote for this hymn (also October 2001). Its metrical structure is admittedly unusual—6.10.10.6.
You’re always welcome to contact me with comments or questions.
About the hymn
My former pastor, the late 
Ed Clowney, told a story about an opportunity he had some years ago to address a group of Ahmadiyya Muslims in southern New Jersey. PCA minister Anees Zaka had invited him to share the podium with a Muslim imam speaking on the subject of divine revelation. The imam presented the Koran as God’s revelation to mankind. In contrast, Dr Clowney explained that the revelation of God is to be found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
An Ahmadi fellow who had attended the event called Zaka three weeks later saying that he was unable to dismiss the distinctively Christian notion that “God came down!”
The hymn is inscribed, “In thanksgiving for Dr and Mrs Edmund P. Clowney.”
| 1. |
Lord Jesus, You came down, |
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The ransom of Your people to pursue. |
(Mk 10:45) | |
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Although the praise of angels was Your due, |
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You laid aside Your crown. |
(cf. Php 2:5–7) | |
| 2. |
Lord Jesus, You remained |
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Among us as Your and strength and stature grew. |
(Lk 2:52) | |
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Under Your own Law, faithful as a Jew, |
(cf. Mt 3:13–17) | |
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God’s favor You obtained. |
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| 3. |
Lord Jesus, You remained |
(cf. Mk 15:32) |
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Upon the cross, erecting the stairway |
(cf. Ge 28:12; Jn 1:51) | |
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Of Jacob. Under darkness at midday, |
(Lk 23:44f.) | |
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God’s wrath upon You rained. |
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| 4. |
Lord Jesus, You arose— |
(cf. Mt 28:6f.) |
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Defeating death, as prophets had made known— |
(cf. Ps 16:8–10; Hos 13:14; Acts 2:24–27) | |
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And claimed again the life that You laid down |
(cf. Jn 10:17f.) | |
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And took up as You chose! |
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| 5. |
Lord Jesus, You’ll return |
(cf. Mt 25:31) |
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To greet, O King, the honor that is Yours |
(cf. Jn 17:5) | |
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And put an end to famine and to wars. |
(cf. Mic 4:3f.; Rev 7:16f.) | |
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Bring that for which we yearn! † |
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| 6. |
Amen, Lord Jesus, come! |
(Rev 22:20) |
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Let trumpets call us to the wedding fest! |
(cf. 1Th 4:16f.; Rev 19:9) | |
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Gather the nations to Your joyous rest |
(cf. Isa 35:10; Heb 4:8–10; Rev 7:9) | |
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And come to take us home! |
(cf. Jn 14:2f.; Php 3:20) | |
† The fifth stanza was composed on October 7th, 2001 after the U.S. government announced the beginning of its first military counterattack upon the forces and support systems of Islamist terrorism in Afghanistan.
