Surveying The Cross

Issac Watts wrote over 500 hymns during his lifetime.  By far, my favorite of these hymns, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, was penned in 1707.  A non-conformist twice imprisoned for his faithfulness to Christ, Watts most likely drew inspiration for the hymn from Galatians 6:14, ^“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

This 5 verse hymn is rich with theology and worship.  Consider the words of this great hymn followed by my observations in italics:

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

Everything I hope to gain, or ever have gained in this world are for naught without Christ. One glance at the wondrous Cross and I realize that I am a sinner, rotten to the core.  Left to my own, I would pursue fleshly desires and operate based on my own wisdom.  Understanding the work accomplished by the Cross brings me to my knees in humble realization of my prideful, sinful nature.  I am amazed by the relentless pursuit of the Father.        

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

My, how I boast…about me.  My life is filled with what I want to accomplish, what I feel, what I like, who I am…and not nearly enough about the gospel of Christ.  My only boasting should come from the understanding that Jesus died for me to set me free.  Free from sin, free to glory in Him, to bring glory to His name, to make Him famous.  My passion should be Christ-like, to reconcile a lost people to God, through Jesus.  The world can have its riches.  I’ll take Jesus, thank you. 

See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?

The agony of the cross means life for me.  Jesus endured the cross and its shame, so I would not need to.  Only a righteous King can do that, and my only response is servitude to Him.  Praise Him for His majesty, His righteousness, His mercy, His grace. 

His dying crimson, like a robe, spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe, and all the globe is dead to me.

Most people will shorten their lives for the pursuits of the world.  If I am alive in Christ, then I am dead to the world, its passions and desires.  And I would have it no other way.  Proverbs 16:25 says “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” That way is the world.  My chief end should never be to bring glory to me, but only glory to God.     

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.

Imagine you had to pay for salvation.  It is impossible; it cannot be done.  But imagine it could.  What price would you pay?  What if you had the whole world at your disposal?  What if wealth was infinite?  It would not be enough.  The only thing you can give in response to this marvelous work of grace, is you.  Indeed, it is what is required.  This is the high cost of discipleship.  Christ demands your soul, your life, you all.  And when you consider the price paid, what else would suffice? 

May we never stop surveying the Wondrous Cross…

Sola deo Gloria,

Brian