AT THE CROSS

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. The song "At The Cross" (No. 157 in "Hymns for Worship) was
      written in 1707 by Isaac Watts. The music was arranged in 1885
      by R.E. Hudson.
   B. We could never literally be at the cross; thus, the song uses  
      poetic license.
   C. Gal. 3:1
      1. Though we will never literally be at the cross, we, like the
         Galatians, can in our mind's eye see Christ crucified.
   D. Let's examine the verses of this grand old song.

I. Verse 1 - "Alas and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign
   die; would He devote that sacred head for such a one as I?"
   A. "Alas and did my Savior bleed..."
      1. The shedding of Jesus' blood first came through scourging.
         John 19:1-5
         a. The "scourging" was where one was beaten with whipes
            until nearly dead.
         b. Much blood was shed by the one being scourged.
         c. Speaking of Christ, Peter said, "By whose stripes you
            were healed." 1 Pet. 2:24
         d. The scourging which Jesus received seems to be Pilate's
            feeble attempt to appease the Jews.
            (1) He brought Jesus out and said, "Behold the man."
            (2) He probably thought this would satisfy those evil
                rulers.
            (3) He underestimated the intense hatred those Jews
                had for Christ.
      2. Next, Jesus was crucified. John 19:12-18
         a. Consider the blood that would be shed when those nails
            were driven through His hands and feet.
      3. And, finally, Jesus was pierced in His side. John 19:33-34
      4. Our Savior bled and died for us.
   B. "And did my Sovereign die..."
      1. He was "sovereign," king of kings and lord of Lords. Rev.
         19:16
      2. Consider His exalted names given in Isa. 9:6
   C. "Would He devote that sacred head for such a one as I?"
      1. The original version is, "Would he devote that sacred head
         for such a worm as I?"
      2. Someone changed the original from "worm" to "one"
         thinking that calling a man a worm would be offensive.
      3. I like the original better. It expresses humility.
         a. David called himself a worm in Psalm 22:6.
         b. God called Israel a worm in Isa. 41:14.
      4. The idea of the song is, "Would Christ devote His sacred
         head for such an unworthy person as I?"

II. Verse 2 - "Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon
   the tree? Amazing pity, grace unknown! And love beyond degree!"
   A. "Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon the
      tree?"
      1. The answer, of course, is "Yes."
         a. We need to make His death personal.
            (1) We like to think that He died for the sins of the
                world, but not for my sins.
            (2) We need the impact: "It was my sins that caused
                Jesus to die."
         b. The wages of sin is death. Rom. 6:23
            (1) A death is required to atone for sin. Christ died in
                our stead. Rom. 3:22-26
         c. There is a story from colonial times which occurred in
            the old school house. There was a big boy who was
            strong and healthy, and there was a little boy who was
            weak and malnourished. One day the little boy was
            caught stealing. He had stolen the lunch of the big
            strong boy and was eating it. The teacher didn't know
            what to do because there was a rule that twenty lashes
            with a switch must be given for stealing. He didn't want
            to beat the small boy who seemed to be starving. The
            big boy said, "Teacher, if you don't mind, I will take   
            the twenty lashes for him." And so it was done. The rule
            was satisfied, and the big boy had a friend for life.
      2. For certain sacrifices in the old Law one had to put his    
         hands upon the head of the animal before it was killed. Ex. 
         29:10-11
         a. We need to think of ourselves putting our hands on the
            head of Jesus before He was crucified.
         b. He was crucified because of our sins.
   B. "Amazing pity, grace unknown! And love beyond degree!"
      1. Rom. 5:6-9; John 15:13
      2. Both God and Christ demonstrated love "beyond degree" to
         do what was done for us.
      3. The height, depth, and breath of the love of Christ is seen 
         in the cross.
      4. Paul prayed that we might "know the love of Christ which
         passes knowledge." Eph. 3:18-19
         a. Though we do not know all there is to know about the
            love of Christ (it passes knowledge), but to a great
            degree, we can see it expressed in the death of Christ.

III. Verse 3 - "Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut His
   glories in, when Christ, the mighty Maker, died for man the
   creature's sin."
   A. "Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut His glories
      in..."
      1. When Christ died, there was darkness over all the earth.
         Luke 23:44-48
      2. It was a dark and terrible day when Christ our Savior died.
   B. "When Christ, the mighty Maker, died for man the creature's     
      sin."
      1. Notice that the song calls Christ the mighty Maker. Col.
         1:16-17
         a. The very One who made us is the One who died for us.
         b. Notice that we were made "for Him." We were planned
            in His mind and brought forth for His purpose.
         c. We were made "for Him" - to love, serve, and obey
            Him.

IV. Verse 4 - "But drops of grief can ne'er repay the debt of love I
   owe: Here, Lord, I give myself away, 'Tis all that I can do!"
   A. We can never repay Him for what He has done for us, but at     
      least we can give ourselves to Him in the way He requires.
      1. Because of what He did, we should "live for righteousness."
         1 Pet. 2:24
      2. Because of what He did, we should "serve the living God."
         Heb. 9:14

V. The chorus - "At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the    
   light, and the burden of my heart rolled away; it was there by    
   faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day."
   A. "At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light..."
      1. It is "at the cross" where we see the plan of God for us. 2
         Tim. 1:9-10
      2. When we began to comprehend what was done for us, it
         leads us to repentance. 
      3. Our great Savior died for us that we might live.
   B. "The burden of my heart rolled away..."
      1. The burden of sin is rolled away through the death of Christ
         on the cross.
      2. There are a lot of burdens to bear in this life, but many of
         them are not important when we truly contemplate the cross.
      3. Many of man's burdens are "much ado about nothing."
      4. When one begins to comprehend eternal redemption, a lot of
         things in this life don't really matter.
   C. "It was there by faith I received my sight..."
      1. Notice how Rom. 3:23-26 mentions that it is the one who
         has "faith" in Christ who is justified.
      2. The cross means nothing to the one who exercises no faith
         regarding it.
   D. "And now I am happy all the day."
      1. Indeed, the joy of salvation comes to those who take
         advantage of the blessings of the cross.
      2. Even the vilest of sinners can find forgiveness and joy
         through the cross.
      3. Philip, beginning with Isa. 53:7-8, preached Jesus to the
         eunuch. Acts 8:35-39
         a. The account of the suffering Savior, and what He
            requires, led the eunuch to obey.
         b. After he obeyed, he went on his way rejoicing.

Concl.
   A. At the cross is where:
      1. Jesus bled and died.
      2. Grace was extended.
      3. Love was exemplified.
      4. Burdens (especially of sin) are rolled away.
      5. True joy and happiness are found.
   B. Jesus shed His blood in His death.
      1. One must through faith be baptized into His death. Rom.
         6:3-4
      2. Have you been baptized to receive the blessings of the      
         cross?