Oh to behold the wonder of the cross. That in one central moment God crucified his only begotten son. To even meditate on this and see not as something routine or cursory but as new, fresh, brilliant, and gripping.
It was in this moment that we see the pinnacle both of God's love for man (his willingness to sacrifice his son) and his justice (with his disdain for sin being so strong that only the life of one who knew no sin, being slaughtered for the many and reconciling us back to God). Oh the mystery of the cross.
"My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"
Verse from "It is well with My Soul"-Horatio G. Spafford. 1873
This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the Great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville De Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sailing ship the Loch Earne, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone." Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.
In this midst of intense pain these were the words he read. Oh to meditate on the power of the cross, which has broken the power of sin and death. Freeing us to the Lord.
Captivate our hearts Lord Jesus we are so quick to miss your truth, compassion, mercy, and justice. Oh the wonder of the cross...
No comments:
Post a Comment