When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Backgrounder: Few believers truly
love the cross of Christ. For though
it offers great deliverance, it also
demands great sacrifice. Isaac
Watts was deeply disappointed
with the hymns of his day, which
failed to inspire his parishes to
genuine worship and holy living.
His dissatisfaction led him to
compose more than 600 hymns,
designed to call his congregation
to a deeper knowledge & worship
of God. This hymn was written in
1707 for use in communion service.
Lord, we Deficate ourselves to U:
I once thought these things were
valuable, but now I consider them
worthless because of what Christ
has done… For his sake I have
discarded everything else,
counting it all as garbage,
so that I could gain Christ and
become one with him (Phil 3:7-9)
Lord Jesus, from the hymn, we
realise the cross is not only a holy
cross, but also a “wondrous” cross.
On this undignified & cruel object,
the wooden cross, placed between
another two which bore the bodies
of criminals, we do not have a
criminal but the “Prince of Glory”.
Why should THE Prince of Glory,
die on such a symbol of ignominity?
If anyone deserved to be exalted
it’s this Prince of Glory who chose
to die in such humility. And so
I pour contempt on all my pride.
The blood flowing from His head,
hands and feet becomes mingled
with sorrow and love. It becomes
sorrow for the pain and suffering;
and also of love because He bore
this for each and everyone of us.
Father God, the wonder and the
seriousness of Christ’s sacrificial
death cause us to contemplate.
What shall we offer to You God
in grateful appreciation for Your
gracious gift? All that we are
and have is but a small offering
in return for such a great love.
So, help us to truly choose you.
And to open ourself to whatever
You want to do in our life to fit
with Your character & purposes.
For Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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.
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.
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
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.
Backgrounder: Few believers truly
love the cross of Christ. For though
it offers great deliverance, it also
demands great sacrifice. Isaac
Watts was deeply disappointed
with the hymns of his day, which
failed to inspire his parishes to
genuine worship and holy living.
His dissatisfaction led him to
compose more than 600 hymns,
designed to call his congregation
to a deeper knowledge & worship
of God. This hymn was written in
1707 for use in communion service.
Lord, we Deficate ourselves to U:
I once thought these things were
valuable, but now I consider them
worthless because of what Christ
has done… For his sake I have
discarded everything else,
counting it all as garbage,
so that I could gain Christ and
become one with him (Phil 3:7-9)
Lord Jesus, from the hymn, we
realise the cross is not only a holy
cross, but also a “wondrous” cross.
On this undignified & cruel object,
the wooden cross, placed between
another two which bore the bodies
of criminals, we do not have a
criminal but the “Prince of Glory”.
Why should THE Prince of Glory,
die on such a symbol of ignominity?
If anyone deserved to be exalted
it’s this Prince of Glory who chose
to die in such humility. And so
I pour contempt on all my pride.
The blood flowing from His head,
hands and feet becomes mingled
with sorrow and love. It becomes
sorrow for the pain and suffering;
and also of love because He bore
this for each and everyone of us.
Father God, the wonder and the
seriousness of Christ’s sacrificial
death cause us to contemplate.
What shall we offer to You God
in grateful appreciation for Your
gracious gift? All that we are
and have is but a small offering
in return for such a great love.
So, help us to truly choose you.
And to open ourself to whatever
You want to do in our life to fit
with Your character & purposes.
For Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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.
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.
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
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.