Read these Scripture passages: II Corinthians 5:19 and 21; Galatians 3:13; Philippians 2:5-8 as a background for "By This We Know Love." Answer the question.

What is the theme of the poem?

This is the poem-
That a man should die is sad,
Or good, or bad, or just, or cruel.
We judge these things by who he was,
And what he did, and how he died,
And who weeps by his side.

But that God should die!
By this we know love!

Grasping not at what was His—
All that heaven was—and is,
Of every glory, honor, praise,
Christ stripped Himself.

God put on man!
By this we know love!

And not alone to share our lot—be born
To play, work, laugh and groan,
And then, in three score years and ten
To die—not thus He came—
Not thus He died.

And no man took His life;
Very God of very God, He laid it down.

See Him, the Lord of Life,
The all atoning death embrace!
My place—there where I belong,
God's wrath on God was hurled,
And I go free!

That a man should die is sad,
Or good or bad, or just or cruel—
Depending on who he was
And what he did and how he died—
And who weeps by his side.

But that God should die!
By this I know love.

—Elizabeth Loeks Bouman