When I Survey The Wonderous Cross
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!
Words: Isaac Watts
Music: Lowell Mason
There’s something about the cross that stops us in our tracks. It’s more than just a symbol; it’s a confrontation with the very heart of our faith. The hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” captures this moment of pause and reflection, where we’re invited to look deeply at the cross and consider its profound meaning for our lives.
“When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of Glory died…”
The hymn starts with a call to “survey” the cross. Not just a passing glance, but a deliberate, thoughtful look. What do we see when we really take the time to survey the cross? We see the “Prince of Glory”—Jesus Himself—hanging there, giving His life for us. This is the ultimate act of love, a sacrifice that we can barely comprehend. The Apostle Paul expressed it best: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, ESV).
This isn’t just a distant historical event; it’s personal. The cross is where our sin met God’s grace. When we survey the cross, we’re faced with both the gravity of our sin and the magnitude of God’s love. The two are inseparable, and it’s in this tension that we begin to understand the depth of what Jesus did for us.
“My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride…”
As we reflect on the cross, our perspective shifts. Things that once seemed important—achievements, status, pride—fade in comparison to the sacrifice made for us. The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in Philippians 3:7-8, saying, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
The cross strips away our pride. How can we boast in ourselves when we see the lengths Jesus went to save us? It’s a humbling experience, but one that leads to true freedom. When we let go of our pride and acknowledge our need for Him, we find a new kind of strength—one that’s rooted not in our accomplishments, but in His grace.
“See, from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down…”
This verse paints a vivid picture of Jesus on the cross, and it’s both heart-wrenching and beautiful. The physical suffering is clear, but it’s the mingling of sorrow and love that stands out. Jesus’ death was an act of sorrow—He bore the weight of the world’s sin—but it was also an act of profound love. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, ESV).
In this moment, we see the fullness of God’s love poured out for us. It’s a love that doesn’t hold back, a love that is willing to suffer and die so that we might live. The cross is where justice and mercy meet, where God’s love is demonstrated in the most powerful way imaginable.
“Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small…”
As we contemplate the cross, we’re struck by the realization that nothing we could ever offer would be enough to repay the debt we owe. If we had the entire world at our disposal, it would still be “far too small” a gift in response to what Jesus has done. This isn’t about feeling inadequate, but rather about recognizing the immeasurable value of His sacrifice. It’s a reminder of grace—God’s gift to us that we could never earn.
The Apostle Paul puts it this way: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV). Our response to the cross isn’t about trying to earn God’s favor, but about living in gratitude for what has already been given to us.
“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all…”
The final line of the hymn sums it up perfectly. The love we see at the cross is beyond anything we can fully understand, but it calls us to give everything in response. This isn’t a burden, but a joyful surrender. When we truly grasp the depth of His love, giving our “soul, our life, our all” feels like the only fitting response.
The cross changes everything. It’s not just a symbol we wear or a story we tell; it’s the foundation of our faith and the center of our lives. As we survey the wondrous cross, may we be drawn into deeper love and commitment to the One who gave everything for us.
Beautiful poem and great analysis. Give one much to meditate on.