Music Mondays: Songs that Teach us Stuff

One of my most treasured memories from growing up in church was taking communion as led by Dr. Ivan French. He was my pastor up until the fifth grade. His sermons consistently pointed us to the Cross and our wonderful Savior. 

When we would observe communion on a monthly basis, he would normally conclude the service with "When I Survey the Wonderful Cross". Thankfully, after Pastor French retired, his successor, Dr. Les Lofquist kept that tradition. It became of my favorite hymns because it elaborates on what Jesus' sacrifice means to you and me. In doing so, it clearly echoes Philippians 3:7-10:

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

The Cross humbles us. It strips us of our pride and presents us with the righteousness we could only obtain through faith in what Christ has done for us. The final verse of this hymn has stuck with me for years - "Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."