Beneath the Cross

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Description

This beautiful hymn written in Scotland in the 19th century points us to the treasure which believers have in the cross of Jesus. While the cross is usually associated with torture and death, these were just the means to secure the benefits that Jesus offers to anyone who will trust in His suffering on their behalf. He endured the "burning of the noontide heat" and the shame of our sinful selves upon himself - the worthy suffering in the place of those who had become worthless. The cross represents the place where believers draw near to Jesus in that moment where he most clearly demonstrated his gracious, unending love. It is a place where the wonder of grace overcomes our sense of unworthiness as we realize that he died for us without any regard to whether we deserved it or not. And so the believer abides in the shadow of the cross to be reminded of true joy, contentment, glory, acceptance, and love. May we never stray far from our place "beneath the cross."

Lyrics

Verse 1:
Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock
Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.

Verse 2:
Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eyes at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart with tears
These wonders I confess-
The wonders of His glorious love,
And my own worthlessness.

Chorus:
Beneath the cross I take my stand
Where gracious love flows without end;
I lose my shame in Jesus' glory,
Then fall to worship beneath the cross.

Verse 3:
I take, O cross, thy shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the cross.

Words by Elizabeth C. Clephane (1830-69) & David L. Ward; Music by David Ward.
© 2017 ThousandTongues.org, admin Thousand Tongues

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