When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Lifeway Worship Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God
All the vain things that charm me most
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
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
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
The song "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" by Isaac Watts and Lowell Mason is a powerful hymn that reflects on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The opening lines encourage the listener to meditate on the image of the cross, where the "Prince of Glory" died. The second line reveals a sobering truth - that the gain and pride that normally infatuate humanity in this world pale in comparison to the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice. Such a realization humbles the singer, deflating any ego-driven tendencies to boast in oneself. Only in the death of Christ does the singer find true value and worth.
The third verse paints a vivid picture of Christ's physical suffering on the cross. The words "Sorrow and love flow mingled down" synthesize the pain of the physical wounds inflicted upon Christ with the boundless divine love that caused Him to endure such agony. The final two lines of the verse proclaim the contradiction of the cross: the greatest injustice committed against the greatest love the world has ever known.
The conclusion of the hymn affirms the conclusion that when confronted with such astounding love, the natural response is to surrender all that we have and all that we are. Our possessions, desires, relationships, and even our very selves must give way to the majesty of Christ's sacrifice. In sum, the hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" leads us through a journey of contemplation, recognition, and surrender.
Line by Line Meaning
When I survey the wondrous cross
When I deeply contemplate the amazing cross
On which the Prince of glory died
Where the royal king was crucified and breathed his last
My richest gain I count but loss
I consider everything that I possess as worthless
And pour contempt on all my pride
I humbly acknowledge my weaknesses and cast aside anything that hinders me from God
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Lord, prevent me from becoming proud of my own accomplishments
Save in the death of Christ my God
Except for the sacrificial death of Christ, who is my God and Savior
All the vain things that charm me most
Anything that superficially appeals to me and leads me astray from faith in Christ
I sacrifice them to His blood
I offer them up to be cleansed by His blood because Christ is worth more than anything else
See from His head, His hands, His feet
Observe the wounds from which sorrow and love flowed
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Sadness and compassion are blended together
Did e′er such love and sorrow meet
Has there ever been such a combination of love and grief?
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Even the crown of thorns that pierced His brow is a symbol of Christ's greatness and honor
Were the whole realm of nature mine
Even if I owned everything in the world
That were a present far too small
It still wouldn't be enough to serve as a proper offering
Love so amazing, so divine
The love of God is incomprehensible and divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
It deserves and requires all of my being to be given in devotion to Him
Love so amazing, so divine
The love of God is incomprehensible and divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
It deserves and requires all of my being to be given in devotion to Him
Writer(s): Watts Isaac, Carmichael Ralph, Mason Lowell
Contributed by Ryan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.