When I Survey...

“...Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

On this day we call Good Friday, J Sidlow Baxter reminds us what it is all about when he says...

“Here is a simple sentence of four words. The first two words state a historical act: ‘Christ died.’ The second two add the theological significance: ‘for us.’ The full four form the crux of the Gospel: ‘Christ died for us.’

Never did four short words hold a bigger or better message.

Isaac Watts in his immortal hymn, ‘When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,’ could not have chosen a truer adjective than ‘wondrous.’ from every aspect of our Lord’s death on Calvary is ‘wondrous.’ Most of all is it so, in its intermingling of tragedy and sublimity, ugliness and loveliness. Think back, just now, to the historical act: ‘Christ died.’

Think again of the fact that He died.
That in itself is a strange marvel. Remember, He was God the Son. He had to become human in order to be even capable of death (Heb 2:9, 14). It is a mysterious wonder that God the Son could die, still more that He should die, still more that He would die, and most of all that He did die.

Think again of the place where He died.
We ourselves all hope to die in our homes surrounded by our loved ones; but our Lord was led out to Calvary, the very atmosphere which was permeated with a gruesome eeriness. Many a crime-stained felon had tortuously come to death there, with foul language and wild shrieks and blasphemous oaths pouring from his lips. ‘And sitting down they watched Him there’ (Matt. 27:36). Think of it: ‘HIM....there’!

Think again of the death that He died.
He was crucified - the most lingering and tortuously excruciating of all legally inflicted killings; and accursed of all executions. It was the lowest, hardest, and most degrading of all deaths. ‘There they crucified Him’ (Luke 23:33).

Think again, now, with whom He died.
It was not a group of noble martyrs, giving themselves for a lofty cause, and bravely sealing their godly testimony with undishonoured blood. No, it was between two ruffians, two gangsters, two foul-mouthed murderers, who reviled Him. There He was, propped up between the two, as though worse than either! - suspended between earth and heaven, as though fit for neither!

Think again of the way He died.
Although He had been treacherously betrayed, unjustly condemned, brutally bullied, whipped, mocked, and nailed there in agony, without one single crime that could be laid against Him, His first cry was, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!’”

He, Who was completely innocent, gave His life for us, who are totally guilty. And now by His Grace, we are completely forgiven.
Oh, the wonder of the cross!