The Wondrous Cross

Philippians 3:7-9

      Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.  

 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross LBW 482

 1    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.

2    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.

3    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?

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

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

      The story of the cross has been a stumbling block since first told.  Believers have rarely been at ease with it.  Isaac Watts drove this point home through the words and music of this powerful hymn.  He was deeply disappointed with the hymns of his day that usually failed to inspire or reveal the glory of God, so he composed more than 600 of his own designed to call his congregation into a deeper sense of worship and knowledge of God.  

       This hymn was written in 1707 as a Communion Hymn.  It's music was derived from an ancient Gregorian chant, the rich tones designed to convince the singer of the seriousness of Christ’s death on their behalf.  

Prayer:  O Christ of the cross, keep us ever mindful of the great sacrifice you made for us.   And in that mind, when we gather in your name, keep the cross ever before us as a symbol so that death, our ancient and powerful enemy, might be forever silenced by your risen power!  Amen.