When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

BIBLE REFERENCE:

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass,
that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Numbers 21:9

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man
be lifted up: John 3:14

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness; 1 Corinthians 1:23

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Galatians 3:13

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:8

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Colossians 1:20

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Isaac Watts - Lyrics
1674-1748

Born: July 17, 1674, Southampton, England.
Died: November 25, 1748, Stoke Newington, England.
Buried: Bunhill Fields Cemetery, London, England.

Lowell Mason - Composer
1792-1872

Born: January 8, 1792, Medfield, Massachusetts.
Died: August 11, 1872, Orange, New Jersey.
Buried: Rosedale Cemetery, Orange, New Jersey

HYMN HISTORY:

It is an understanding to say that Isaac Watts was a precocious child. He learned Latin at age five, Greek at nine, French at eleven, and when he was twelve he mastered Hebrew. His habit of spontaneously making rhymes as he spoke drove his father to distraction. Watts grew up to be an Nonconformist cleric and eventually wrote over six hundred hymns. Today he is known as the father of English hymnody.

Watts wrote “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” when he was thirty-four years old. British poet Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) called it the greatest hymn in the English language. This is high praise coming as it does from the preeminent literary critic of the nineteenth century who occupied the chair of poetry at Oxford University.

The hymn’s powerful images and strong emotion combine with its author’s pure devotion to God. The blend is a strengthening tonic for a believer’s faith. Watt wrote the hymn as he was preparing to take of the Lord’s Supper, a practice central to the Christian faith because it memorializes Christ’s work of redemption through his death on the cross--the single most significant act in human history.

The second verse of this moving hymn expresses the centrality of the death of Jesus Christ in a believer’s live:

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.

The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of the vast importance of Christ’s death. Isaac Watts said that Christ’s death expresses “Love so amazing, so divine.” It is really beyond words. Yet the words of Watt’s hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” are his superb attempt to express the power of the Cross and Jesus Christ crucified.

The tune for this text is known as the “Hamburg” tune. It was the work of Lowell Mason, who was often called the “Father of American Church an Public School Music.” was born on January 8, 1792, in Medfield, Massachusetts. He spent his early life in Savannah, Georgia. In 1827, he moved to Boston and while residing there founded the Boston Academy of Music, for the purpose of reaching and teaching the masses with music. Mason moved to New York City, where he began publishing hymnals and choral collections. In all, Lowell Mason is credited with composing and arranging approximately 700 hymn tunes.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This beautiful hymn speaks eloquently of the Wondrous Cross and the sacrifice made for the sins of all mankind.

Many can quote John 3:16 by memory, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, a master of Israel, and He was telling him of the way of salvation. Nicodemus was having trouble understanding what Jesus was telling him, "Ye must be born again."

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? John 3:9

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? John 3:10

Jesus then used a story from the Old Testament that Nicodemus was very familiar with to prophesy how He would soon die:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. John 3:14

The story Jesus was quoting from can be found in Numbers 21:4-9.

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. Numbers 21:4-5

The children of Israel were wearied by a long march round the land of Edom. They began to speak ungratefully of what God had done for them, and they were no trusting Him for what He would do.

They began to speak against God, and they questioned Moses asking, “Why have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  For there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”

The Israelites loathed the light bread (manna) that God miraculous provided for their nourishment.

We then see the righteous judgment God brought upon them for murmuring. He sent fiery serpents among them, which bit or stung many to death. God was trying to get them to realize their sin of unbelief.

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Numbers 21:6

When the Israelites repented of their sin, they came to Moses and asked him to pray to the LORD to take His hand of judgement from upon them.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. Number 21:7

God in His infinite mercy made a wonderful provision for their relief.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Numbers 21:8-9

It was not the sight of the brazen serpent that cured; but in looking up to it, they looked up to God as the Lord that healed them.

Jesus declared in John 3:14-15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Their sin of unbelief is no different then as it is today. Sin still bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6

At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Proverbs 23:32

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 1 Corinthians 15:56

The remedy for sin is the same, they looked and lived, and we, if we believe, we shall not perish. It is by faith that we look unto Jesus.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Whosoever looked, however desperate his case, or feeble his sight, or distant his place, was certainly and perfectly cured. You too can experience forgiveness from your sins if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,come to repentance and place your trust in the wonderful gift of salvation offered to you today. Do not let anything prevent you today from looking upon Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

If you would like to know how to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior please click on the following link and read how?