Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders
It seems that “survey” is not a word that we would use in conjunction with the cross of Christ. Typically, we use the word in association with polls to gauge people’s opinions and behaviors. We also use it to valuate real property before purchase and investment. Yet, the title of Isaac Watts’ hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” is packed with more meaning than meets the eye.
As we sing of Jesus’ sacrifice, it may be easy to gloss over the word “survey” in the hymn. But, the Scriptures ask us to take time to survey our Lord’s cross. To do so requires that we ask several questions: “Why did Jesus have to die?” “Why would Jesus die for me?” “What is the significance of the cross?”
Anticipating our questions, God in his infinite wisdom, provided answers:
He was wounded and crushed
because of our sins;
by taking our punishment,
he made us completely well.
All of us were like sheep
that had wandered off.
We had each gone our own way,
but the Lord gave him
the punishment we deserved.
(Isaiah 53:5,6, CEV)
And again:
“All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins” (Romans 3:23,24, CEV).
Still, the Scriptures show that it was Christ’s great love for us that made him lay his divinity aside:
Christ was truly God.
But he did not try to remain
equal with God.
Instead he gave up everything
and became a slave,
when he became
like one of us.
Christ was humble.
He obeyed God and even died
on a cross.
(Philippians 2:6-8, CEV)
Perhaps those Scriptures give us a glimpse of what was on the mind of God when he sent his only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Perhaps, it gives us a glimpse of what was on Jesus’ mind when he agreed.
Yet, as we survey the cross, we should fix our gaze on it and think deeply about its importance to our lives. If we do that, we cannot help but see the huge investment that Jesus places in us. We cannot ignore the fact that despite what others thought about him, Jesus went to the cross, suffered a horrendous death for each of us—to reconcile us back to the Father and to give us eternal life.
But our survey goes even further. We discover that the Christ of the cross has resurrection power which enables us to proclaim “…Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me” (Galatians 2:20, CEV).
PRAYER: Life-giving Lord Jesus, we look to you and survey your cross, made all the more precious because it is we who deserved death and not you. Help us to embrace such undeserved love and to share its powerful witness with those around us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
©Medytations 2022
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