Easter Countdown: 1) When I Survey The Wondrous Cross (Isaac Watts)

There have been ten wonderful hymns and songs this week, so choosing any sort of order was always going to be a massive challenge, but at number one we have the oldest hymn in the list and an all-time favourite - When I Survey The Wondrous Cross, written by Isaac Watts in 1707.

This wonderful hymn has had many tunes written for it. The performance above, with the passion and sincerity of Guy Penrod and David Phelps, is to the tune 'Hamburg', but you may be more familiar with the older tune 'Rockingham' or the Scottish 'O Waly Waly'. I've also enjoyed Welsh choirs singing it to 'Morte Christe'. All these tunes appear at the end of the article.

What does the cross mean for you and me? Is it merely a prop in the story of Easter, or does it bear more significance for us than that?

Firstly, Jesus said, in advance of His death that "whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34). Following Jesus involves sacrifice. For His disciples, that involved leaving their homes, families and possessions, but later on as witnesses of His resurrection it involved their rejection, suffering and even death. Tradition suggests that many of the disciples were themselves crucified on a cross in the same way their Lord was - they were prepared to sacrifice even their own lives for their Lord and the commission He had given them and went to their deaths rejoicing they had been given the privilege of doing so.

However the message those disciples were proclaiming was that Jesus Himself had gone to the cross to pay the ultimate sacrifice. He died on the cross as the "once for all" sacrifice for sin so that we could have our sins forgiven; so that we would not have to face the wrath of God for our own sins. He did not have to do so but in His great love and mercy He chose the way of the cross. "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him may shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

The King of Kings stood before Roman and Jewish leaders with infinitely more power and authority than any one of them. However He allowed Himself to bear their scorn, mocking, spitting and slapping; He wore the crown of thorns on His head and went to be crucified so that God could display not just His power and authority but all His unfailing love and compassion. "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). The nails went through His hands and His feet, securing Jesus to the cross. Yet no nail, no rope, no man-made device could keep Him there; it was love alone that kept Jesus on the cross.

The result of such amazing love should be that we respond in love to God. "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Jesus says "if you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Paul exhorts the Romans "in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). So the a result of God's love displayed in the cross is that we love God and sacrifice every aspect of our lives to God and His service. 'Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!'

As well as being such a favourite Easter hymn, I've finished this series with 'When I Survey' because it offers up a challenge to us all. Moving beyond Easter, having been freshly reminded of Christ's love and sacrifice, let's be renewed in our commitment to Him. Let's be prepared to do whatever He asks us, learn whatever He wants to teach us and love as He has loved us.

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When I survey the wond'rous 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.