Hymn Study - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

1 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. 2 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 through his blood. 3 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? 4 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.

On Ash Wednesday in 2004 a movie was released called The Passion of the Christ. The film takes an unapologetic look at the suffering that Jesus went through as He made His way from the Garden of Gethsemane to the cross on Golgotha where He then dies. The movie draws from the four Gospels and historical passion plays. It's also incredibly violent. Rotten Tomatoes gives a consensus of critique on the film stating, "the graphic details of Jesus' torture make the movie tough to sit through and obscure whatever message it is trying to convey." Another critique of the movie comes from Roger Ebert who says, "That his[Mel Gibson] film is superficial in terms of the surrounding message -- that we get only a few passing references to the teachings of Jesus -- is, I suppose, not the point." Roger Ebert at least understands that was not the point but he makes an interesting point.

What do you see when you survey the wondrous cross? Many see the cross as that thing that is engraved on all the pews, hung up above the alter, a tiny gold trinket around one's neck. Mel Gibson knows what he sees when he surveys the wondrous cross. Innocent blood shed, innocent life taken, an extreme act of cruelty all put upon one man who gladly takes it on. The film opens with a depiction of Mark 14, "₃₂They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." ₃₃He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ₃₄"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."₃₅Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.₃₆"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.""

What did Jesus see when He surveyed the wondrous cross, He saw His Father's Will. He also saw death, His own precious life and our eternal death and separation from Him. And so the Bible tells us He was flogged(Mark 15:15), fulfilled prophecy tells they ripped His beard out of His face(Isaiah 50:6), He was spit on and beaten with fists(Mark 14:65), they fashioned a crown made out of thorns and as The Passion of the Christ depicts forced it on His head(Mark 15:17). Also as if it were not enough, we're told time and time again that throughout His journey to the cross and finally even on the cross dying that people mocked Him.

So why did I bring up this movie. It's an interesting take on what likely happened that day as Jesus was put to death. It's a tough watch for atheists and the Christian alike. A lot of people as seen above criticized the amount of violence and maybe even a historian or medical doctor could contradict the suffering compared to the act, but is it maybe we don't like seeing this happen? Often times depictions of Good Friday in movies display a trial before the Sanhedrin, a trial before Pontius Pilate and finally and actor suspended on a cross where he gives up his soul followed by the next scene. I'm not sure how much blood there is but I imagine quite a bit during a flogging, quite a bit while having a nail driven through a hand, and the cross is not a pleasant experience, one didn't just hang from it comfortably until they died.

Meanwhile others watch this film and they accuse the Romans of being too cruel, they accuse the Sanhedrin of being too evil, they accuse the crowds of being too mean. Sure, those people put Jesus to death and we did too. Perhaps these people renounce the vilifying because as Christians, they don't like thinking of themselves there on that day, shouting Him down, begging for His death. Maybe they like to pretend that inherent wickedness is not a part of man then or today as to distance themselves from this idea. But there are those, Christians and atheists who have praised the film for its cinematography and story telling. It has a way of striking emotion in most viewers, perhaps it's revulsion, perhaps it's guilt, maybe anger or sadness, or in many cases wonder.

As Christians what do we see when we survey the wondrous cross. Hebrews 12 says, "₂Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ₃Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. ₄In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." Let us look at Jesus, who reigns on the throne of God now, preparing our perfect home with Him because of this cross. A criticism of the film is the ultimate evangelism falls short. This happened to make us holy, to make Christ victorious. The film does anything but that for most of it's run time, but at the very end it shows Christ risen. Christ suffered death and conquered it on the third day, Easter Sunday, just like He said He would.

The cross also shows us a path to perfection through the forgiveness of sins. 1 Peter 2 says, "₂₁To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ₂₂"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." ₂₃When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ₂₄He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ₂₅For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." We take our sins to the Cross and through it Christ grants us new life and we do it as Christians again and again, a thankfully bottomless well that we have to unfortunately draw from over and over until we're finally called home.

This hymn wants you to understand the price paid for your sins, just like the movie, we look to Christ's suffering and it makes us want to be anything but boastful. The Passion of the Christ is one man's faithful and loving vision for what Christ did brought to cinema. That said it's not our Bible, but it's an interesting look into what suffering actually means, when you think of the cross, do you think of a tool of death? Sure we preach Christ crucified for our victory but don't forget Christ crucified was a punishment far worst meant for us.