When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

-


--image from the Ancient Sculpture Galley Collection of Icons




This hymn, written by Isaac Watts around 1707, is one of the first hymns written in "first person." This means the author simply told his personal response to a spiritual insight in the lyrics. This hymn's fourth verse, rarely used these days (too bad), is one of the most powerful in the song and was based on Galatians 6:14.

"His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o'er His body on the tree:
Then am I dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me."

When the writer says he "surveys" the wondrous cross, what he really means is he reflects upon, deeply considers, and meditates on the cross. Another writer---sadly, I cannot recall the name--wrote of the shame and scandal of the cross. Why would the Son of God disgrace Himself by dying, and by dying such a horrible, painful, torturous death? Every religious tradition includes sacrifice, but only Christianity shows a God who loves us enough to die for us.

The cross is not "wonderful"; it's "wondrous." It's incomprehensible to me that someone perfect, without flaw would chose the most painful way to atone for or make good on my mistakes and my flaws. Jesus, always in control of His situation, challenged His opposition by asking them "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?" (John 8:46) I don't doubt for one minute they would have listed his errors if they could.

It's Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Season of Lent. The cross is wondrous because it reminds me the price of getting right with God and staying right with God is very, very high. It reminds me this is not something I could have initiated, but it is something I can continue by my choices and priorities. The wondrous cross reminds me God saw something in me worth dying for, and chose to do so in order to bring me back into fellowship with Him. Honestly, when I look at myself, I don't see enough there to cost someone his or her life. But God saw that worth in me, and that was a priceless love I cannot deny.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mother's Day Remembrance of Love and Beauty

-
Image
--Celtic Knot of Motherhood, from tglass.net 2009 will be my sixth Mother's Day celebration without my mother. In addition, my grandmothers and (ex) mother-in-law, a woman I never met, are also deceased. I am grateful for the "play mothers" who have filled in with a love and concern that go beyond short phone conversations and holiday gifts. "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." --Proverbs 31:30 Love and beauty are two of the qualities most associated with what most of us consider to be feminine. My mother's love was expressed to me as a child when she taught me to help her in her rose garden and took the time to carefully explain how she cared for the plants. She loved the color and fragrance of the roses, and I came to love them, too. Her love was gentle, but contagious. Whenever I see a vibrant, healthy rose bush or a dozen roses in a vase, I think of her. M. Scott Peck wrote tha
Read more

Higher Ground; Heaven's Tableland

-
Image
(image from wikiwand.com) A hymn I grew up with--one  I seldom hear anymore--was titled "Higher Ground." In the chorus of the hymn, we sang these words: "Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith, on heaven's tableland, A higher plane than I have found, Lord plant my feet on higher ground." What is a tableland? A tableland is a plateau, a mesa, or an elevated flat ground. Often sheep would graze on tableland. What is heaven's tableland?  Many commentators have said it is the afterlife, when we all live in the heavenly kingdom of God's goodness. Not so fast. Heaven's tableland is not for the future; it is for now. It is for us to live on now. We won't need faith in heaven. It is only in this world that we need faith. Note carefully what the hymn writer wrote: "Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith , on heaven's tableland." In this world, we need faith. We need heaven's tab
Read more

Declaring Yourself "Blessed and Highly Favored"? Slow Down A Bit...

-
Image
--spreadshirt.com I used to speak regularly with someone who often declared herself to be "blessed and highly favored." When I telephoned her and would ask "how are you doing"? or "how is it going with you"?, the instant answer was always "I am blessed and highly favored!" Her answer came too quickly, almost as if no thought went into the response. I understand what many people teach about speaking only those words that reflect the reality you wish to experience. I think I have a least a little bit of understanding regarding why this type of thinking is so popular. I am not sure it's a good idea, or even biblical, but it is popular. I suppose we all like to think we are blessed of the Lord, but what does it mean to be highly favored? I reflect upon two persons from Scripture (Mary, Jesus' mother and the Apostle Paul)  I would consider to be "blessed and highly favored" of the Lord, but their lives were challenging,
Read more