When John, whose voice went out before
and cried for purity,
saw Christ approaching on the shore,
he ran and bent his knee,
as heav'n and earth in one accord
shall bow, their Lord to see:
"It should be you baptizing, Lord,
and do you come to me?"
Obedient, though, the Baptist stands
to wash the spotless pure,
and watches as the dove descends
and hears the thunders roar.
The water pouring from his hands
came down from heav'n before,
but heav'n itself before him bends,
heav'n's mercy to implore.
He nothing had that was not giv'n,
had nothing God could need,
but emptied out the gifts of heav'n
upon his Savior's head.
Decreased again and yet again
that Christ might be increased,
he overflowed with his Amen,
and God with him was pleased.
Miniature from the Psalter of Eleanor of Aquitaine (ca. 1185) This media file is from Koninklijke Bibliotheek, donated in the context of a partnership program., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61611015
Kate Bluett 