Day Forty Six - The Power of the Cross

Oh, to see the dawn

Of the darkest day:

Christ on the road to Calvary.

Tried by sinful men,

Torn and beaten, then

Nailed to a cross of wood.

This, the power of the cross:

Christ became sin for us,

Took the blame, bore the wrath:

We stand forgiven at the cross

Oh, to see the pain

Written on Your face

Bearing the awesome weight of sin;

Every bitter thought,

Every evil deed

Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees,

Now the ground beneath

Quakes as its Maker bows His head.

Curtain torn in two,

Dead are raised to life;

“Finished!” the victory cry.

Oh, to see my name

Written in the wounds,

For through Your suffering, I am free.

Death is crushed to death,

Life is mine to live,

Won through Your selfless love.

This, the power of the cross:

Son of God, slain for us,

What a love! What a cost!

We stand forgiven at the cross.

This is one of my favourite Easter hymns, with its wonderful words and stirring melody. Although sung primarily on Good Friday the words lead us nicely to that first Easter Day.

The hymn was written by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, one of several story songs that they have written together. The song’s story paints a perfect picture of the events of that first Good Friday when Christ was tried, then beaten and nailed to the cross then left to suffer and die. The chorus goes on to explain the reasons for it all happening, “Christ became sin for us” and “took the blame and bore the wrath.”

The last verse and chorus bring the story up to date speaking to us personally, it proclaims our salvation and victory over death through Christ. We are now part of the picture, as the hymn says, “our” names are written in his wounds. The last line of the chorus remarkably reminds us that we are already forgiven at the cross. This is the wonderful Christian truth, that our amazing God who sent His Son to die for us has already forgiven us.

What this hymn says to me is that although we are as guilty of sin as those who witnessed the first Good Friday, it does not matter who we are, we are all forgiven at the cross. We are free to live our lives because of the suffering and great sacrifice of Jesus. So, whatever you are doing today, we can be assured that we are forgiven of our sins and we can celebrate the wonderful events tomorrow of that first Easter Sunday.

In the words of another Easter hymn “Hallelujah! What a Saviour.”

Julie Burnett