What a Savior!

"Man of sorrows!" what a name for the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood,
Seal'd my pardon with his blood; Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we, spotless Lamb of God was he;
Full atonement! can it be? Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Lifted up was he to die, "It is finished," was his cry;
Now in heav'n exalted high, Hallelujah, what a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious King, all his ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing, Hallelujah, what a Savior!
--Philip P. Bliss

The Christian life is one that should be marked by perpetual meditation on the cross. We should continue to rehearse the events of the gospel message, i. e. the death, burial, and resurrection of the God-Man on behalf of sinners. We should also continue to rehearse the implications of the gospel, i. e. that through Christ, we are forgiven, cleansed, accepted, adopted, and dearly loved. One way to continually rehearse these truths is by filling our heads and hearts with Christ-exalting, cross-centered, gospel-rich songs. The hymn, "'Man of Sorrows,' What a Name," is a good example. There are also many newer songs that teach the old, old story.

Reminders of the Fall

I was looking out the window this morning and noticed a new dent on my truck. Apparently, a limb or something landed a rather hard blow to the roof. I am a bit ashamed to admit it, but it grieved me a little to see the dent. Not that there aren't other dents on the truck. There was one on it when I bought it--the only flaw in an otherwise flawless vehicle. Since I bought it, someone has dented the front passenger's side fender, I dented the front driver's side fender by running over a post in the front yard, and during the ice storm a limb ripped off the driver's side mirror. Then on top of all of those things, there have been mechanical problems and rusting.

Looking at my truck this morning in its diminishing glory made me long for better days. I wanted to turn back the clock or at least halt the steady crawl into ruin. As I stood there looking out the window mourning a dent in my truck, a thought occurred to me: it's a machine. It doesn't know me, it doesn't love me, it couldn't care less if I praise it or curse it. It is a lifeless object designed to serve one purpose: transportation. It is only a thing, and yet, I care about it.

A Scripture came to mind as I stared out the window, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal" (Matt. 6:19). As I thought about this passage, I couldn't help but be reminded of two facts. First, this world is in a fallen condition. Adam's sin has subjected this world to bondage. Second, this world and its conditional are passing away. Somehow I doubt I'll be driving a glorified version of my truck in the new earth.

The slow (and emotionally painful) decay of my truck is only a symptom of a greater tragedy. Paul stated, "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" (Rom. 8:22-23). There is within all of us the knowledge that the way things are isn't the way they are supposed to be.

But thank God, better things are coming. Sin, hell, and death have been defeated. One day, by faith, we shall see the new heavens and the new earth. All of the decay that reflects the fallenness of creation will be gone. As Jesus said, "Behold, I make all things new" (Rev. 21:5). As I think about the significance of the death and resurrection of Christ, a new dent in my truck seems like a trivial distraction. But, it does remind me that my soul, which was marred by sin and corruption, was redeemed. By the grace of God, I was not consigned to the junk heep. God the Father sent his Son into the world to redeem a people for his glory. Jesus, the Son, in his infinite mercy purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree. The Holy Spirit in his gracious kindness enabled me to trust in Jesus' work on the cross.

Unlike my truck, I'm being renewed day by day. Unlike my truck, I care what the One who owns me thinks about me. I desire his praise; I fear his curse. I stand amazed at the fact that Jesus bore the curse for me. Paul informs us, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'" (Gal. 3:13). The cross changes everything. When one truly understands the cross it causes a radical shifting of priorities. This world and its trinkets no longer have a hold on us. Let us turn our attention to the cross and find in Christ the hope of renewal.

The Old Rugged Cross

I am thinking about the cross. More particularly I am thinking about the old hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross" (written by George Bennard). The song conveys a powerful message concerning the cross. It reminds us of what Jesus endured upon the cross on our behalf. Meditate, with me, on these words:

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Oh, that old rugged cross so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left his glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Chorus:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
Where is glory forever I'll share.

Oh, that the power of the cross were ever before us, shaping our hearts and mind. Have you looked to the wondrous beauty of the cross? If not turn your mind's eye to that hill far away, and see that old rugged cross.

What Wondrous Love Is This

Sometimes it is difficult to place the meditations of the heart into words. Even when words come to mind they some how feel inadequate. During the last few weeks leading up to Resurrection Sunday, I have found myself meditating on the cross. Doing a series of sermons on the words of Jesus from the cross has been both difficult and rewarding. The context for all of these sermons is the crucifixion of Jesus, and so it is only natural that I find the cross continually returning to my mind.

Meditating on the cross creates in me anxiety at times. It causes me to feel like I don't know enough about it. It makes me realize the coldness of my heart toward the death of Christ. Meditating on the cross demonstrates the ease with which the world can seduce me and draw me away from my first love, Jesus.

Meditating on the cross also creates in me love, devotion, and gratitude. When I think of the the lengths that Jesus went through to secure my pardon with the Father, I can't help but feel love. I am unworthy of his care and kindness. The cross not only reminds me that salvation is all of grace, but that it is all of great over-abounding grace lavished upon us for God's own pleasure. He delights in redeeming us, and that should astound us.

The reality is that meditating on the cross should bring us into a state of humble submission to God. The old hymn, "What Wondrous Love Is This," captures it wonderfully:

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul,
What wondrous love is this,
That caused the Lord of bliss,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down,
Beneath God's righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,
To God and to the Lamb I will sing,
To God and to the Lamb
Who is the great "I Am,"
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on,
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing and joyfully be,
And thro' eternity I'll sing on,
And thro' eternity I'll sing on.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Isaac Watts had a remarkable gift for word pictures. He stated,

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e're such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
--From "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"

I find my mind returning time and again to the question, "Did e're such love and sorrow meet?" I can almost see Christ hanging there on the cross, his blood flowing from his head, his hands, his feet. I can almost feel the sorrow and love mingling together. As my mind meditates on Jesus' death and resurrection I cannot help but resonate with Isaac Watts,

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!
--From "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"

Are you ready to give him your soul, your life, and your all?