When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Liturgy Lessons: January 27, 2019
Prelude
Welcome/Announcements
Call to Worship: Hebrews 1:1-3a, Philippians 2:5b-11
Prayer of Invocation
Hymn of Adoration: Worship Christ, the Risen King! (#286)
Confession: Isaiah 55:4-6 and Prayer
Assurance of Pardon: Col. 2:13-15 (NIV); Galatians 2:20
Hymn of Assurance: The Power of the Cross
Catechism & Congregational Prayers
Reading of the Word: Luke 9:23-27
Doxology: #731
Sermon: “The Cross of Discipleship,” Rev. Shiv Muthukumar
Tithes and Offerings
Supper: Jesus, I Live to Thee (#516); Jesus Paid it All (#308)
Closing Hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (#252)
Benediction

In the International System of Units (SI), a watt is a measure of power, equivalent to one joule per second, and is used to quantify the rate of energy transfer. In the International Songbook of Notable Guys (SING), Watts is the primary standard of measurement. One Watts is equivalent to one jewel per Psalm, and transfers Holy Spirit power at a rate that is impossible to quantify.

Distinct from volts, amps, and ohms, a watt is associated with the changing of electrical energy into light energy (and some heat/sound). It is a measure of an appliance’s power, and was named after the inventor of the steam engine, James Watt. Distinct from Wesleys, Newtons, and Cowpers, a Watts is associated with converting the doctrinal to the devotional, conducting its energy from the Eternal Son (light), the Consuming Fire (heat), and the Holy Whisper (sound). It is an audible pulse of praise and derives its power from the Inventor of all things, Jesus Christ.

Electric metaphors are apt when talking about the hymns of Isaac Watts. Watts’ lifelong ambition was to serve the church by “re-wiring” its devotional language. When his hymns first appeared in 18th-century England, they brought quite a shock. The church’s singing was languishing with low-voltage versions of the Psalms, and so Watts adapted and distilled them into paraphrases that could be more easily sung. These, he hoped, would work like a converter to channel the force of each Psalm straight into the body of believers. For some dissenters, Watts’ Psalm paraphrases were the cultural equivalent of placing a 9-volt battery on the tongue. Nothing more than an annoying and painful prank. But for most of England, and eventually all of Europe, they hit with the force of a defibrillator. “Charging…charging…clear!” Zzzzzzchunk!

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Eph. 5:14)

This quote from the fifth chapter of Ephesians sounds like something that Watts would have shouted or had inscribed on the front of a T-shirt. His calling was the revitalization of the Church’s song, but his passion was to illuminate the Glory of Jesus Christ. His writing, then, was an obedient response to the mandate that comes later in Ephesians 5.

“…be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Eph. 5:18-20)

Paul reminds us that God calls not only for Psalms, but hymns and spiritual songs as well. Watts responded by providing hymns that were filled with inspired truth, with thankfulness and reverence for Christ. I am so grateful for this man. His hymns are a lyrical mainline from head to heart, and they have been energizing, reviving, and the rejuvenating the songs of the saints for generations.

As a child, Isaac was never strong, and he suffered poor health his entire life. Because of his frailty, He was forced to resign a pastorate. For the latter 30 years of his life, he was more or less an invalid. But though weak in body, he was superhuman in mind. He was a winsome and wonderful wordsmith! His literary and poetic gifts poured out onto the page. Isaac had a love for the church and a deep passion for glorifying God through verse and song. His legacy shines through verse after verse with the brilliance of a million Watts! His hymns truly zing! So many are recognizable by title alone. In fact, read the recently discovered Wattsian poem below and see if you can spot the seeds of many of the hymns that he would flesh out later in life. This eight-verse ode was found just yesterday in young Isaac’s childhood journal (wink!).

The Psalms of David are truly divine
Admirable, exalted, noble, sublime.
Their fame extends from shore to shore
Of our worship, the very core.

O God, my help in writings past,
my hope for hymns to come,
May all my verse bring praise to Thee,
and find melodies that hum!

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Text: Isaac Watts (1707)
Tune: Lowell Mason (1824)

I’ll go on record and say that I believe this is the greatest English-language hymn ever written. In fact, it is one of the greatest hymns of all time. Brilliant in its simplicity, and profound in its poetic depth, it is considered the crowning achievement of the “father of English hymnody.” The music was written by Lowell Mason, and it consists of only five notes. It is based on a Gregorian chant. I don’t normally prefer to give a passing nod to the music itself, but in the case of this hymn, that is entirely appropriate. The tune is really just a humble servant to a timeless and transcendent text. I’d like to survey those sublime verses for a bit.

Isaac Watts wrote “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” in preparation for a communion service in 1707. Originally, the hymn was named “Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ,” following the practice of the day to summarize a hymn’s theme in the title. It was first published in 1707 in Watt’s collection Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Watts wrote five stanzas for the original version; however, he put his fourth stanza in brackets, indicating that it was an optional inclusion.

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree:
Then am I dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

I am glad that verse didn’t make the cut, because the four verses that have been codified over time are near perfection. They are saturated with scriptural references, and they employ some beautiful poetic devices. Consider the paradox (‘richest gain’ is ‘counted loss’) and play on words (‘pour’ could also mean ‘poor’) in the opening stanza. The third verse holds a hauntingly elegant phrase (‘sorrow and love flow mingled down’), and the final stanza concludes with one of the greatest statements in all hymnody: “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!”

This is a truly majestic hymn. Charles Wesley once remarked that he would have given up all of his hymns if he could have written this one. But if all we do is gush and fawn over Isaac Watts’ skill, we would surely make the artist himself angry. Isaac Watts’ desire was not for his own recognition, but that his work would bring glory to God by enriching the praise of His people. He wanted to steer and stir the heart with the Love of Christ. So, to that end, I’ll say “Thank you, Isaac, for giving us heart language to express our love for Jesus. Be assured that as we sing your words, God will get all the glory. I look forward to meeting you in heaven and going for a long walk together down the gold-paved streets, listening to the angel choir repeat the sounding joy.”

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” (Phil. 3:7-8)

Forbid it Lord that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood.

“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal. 6:14)

See from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

“He is despised and rejected of men, a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Is. 53:3)

“…and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand.” (Matt. 27:29)

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small,
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

“I appeal to you therefore, brother, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Rom. 12:1)

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal. 2:20)

– Sheet music
– Recording (Fernando Ortega)
– My favorite version (choir and organ)