[Biblemat] hymn study, "Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow"

[Wayne S Walker]

Wayne Walker here with another weekly hymn study.

"CROSS OF JESUS, CROSS OF SORROW"
"Christ also...suffered for sins, the just for the unjust"

     INTRO.:  A hymn which centers our minds on the fact that Christ
suffered for our sins is "Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow" (#595 in Hymns
for Worship Revised).  The text was written by William John
Sparrow-Simpson, who was born on June 20, 1860, at London, England. 
After being educated at Trinity College in Cambridge, he became an
Anglican minister and served various churches but is best remembered for
compiling the lyrics in 1886, apparently using the penname James S.
Simpson, for the famous oratorio The Crucifixion that was published in
1887 with music by John Stainer, who was born at London, England, on June
6, 1840, the son of a schoolmaster.  As a young man, he served at St.
Paul's Cathedral in London, after which he was educated at Christ Church
in Oxford and at St. Edmund Hall.

     In 1860 Stainer became organist at Magdalen College and in 1861 at
University College.  Then in 1872, he succeeded John Goss as the music
director at St. Paul's Cathedral and served with distinction until
failing eyesight forced his retirement.  During his life he produced over
150 hymn tunes, some of which appear in his Choir-Book for the Office of
Holy Communion in 1873, many anthems, and several cantatas.  In 1879 he
served as coeditor of The Dictionary of Musical Terms and authored the
book The Music of the Bible.  His textbook on organ playing was a classic
for more than half a century. Stainer's most famous musical work was his
oratorio The Crucifixion of 1887, which contains this hymn with
Sparrow-Simpson's words and Stainer's tune (Crux Jesu).  Though the
oratorio was written for chorus, this part was evidently intended to be
sung by the entire audience.  After his retirement in 1888, Stainer was
knighted by Queen Victoria and returned to Oxford where he taught until
he died.  In 1898, he served as music editor for the Church Hymnary.  

     A skilful and effective choir trainer, organist, editor, composer,
and teacher, Stainer was one of the most eminent of the Victorian church
musicians, but is probably best known for his popular arrangements of old
English melodies, such as that for the famous holiday song, "The First
Noel."  He died at Verona, Italy, on Mar. 31, 1901.  Besides his
collaboration with Stainer, Sparrow-Simpson made literary contributions
in the fields of church history and theology.  In 1904, he was appointed
Chaplain of St. Mary's Hospital at Great Ilford in Essex, England where
he died on Feb. 13, 1952.  Among hymnbooks published by members of the
Lord's church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ,
the only one in which I have found the text is Hymns for Worship Revised
(not in the original edition), which for reasons that are beyond me uses
a different tune composed by John Bacchus Dykes that in most of our books
is associated with "Father, Hear the Prayer We Offer" by Love M. Willis. 


     This hymn helps us to think about the great sorrow that Jesus
experienced while on the cross for us.

I. Stanza 1 says that on the cross Jesus shed His blood
"Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow, Where the blood of Christ was shed,
Perfect Man on thee did suffer, Perfect God on thee has bled!"
 A. It is certainly fitting to call the cross of Jesus a "cross of
sorrow" because He was the  "Man of sorrows": Isa. 53.3
 B. It is through the shed blood of Christ that we have remission of
sins: Matt. 26.28
 C. While the one who suffered on the cross was a perfect Man, He was
also "truly...the Son of God": Mk. 15.39

II. Stanza 2 says that on the cross Jesus was crucified for our sins
"Here the King of all the ages, Throned in light ere worlds could be,
Robed in mortal flesh is dying, Crucified by sin for me."
 A. That being whom we identify as Jesus Christ was, before He came to
this earth, the King of all the ages who dwelt with God Himself: Jn. 1.1 
 B. In His preincarnate existence, He was throned with with a glory about
which He later prayed: Jn. 17.5
 C. Yet, He came to die, not just as a martyr, but as a sacrifice for our
sins: 1 Cor. 15.3-4

III. Stanza 3 says that on the cross Jesus bore the sufferings of all
mankind
"O mysterious condescending!  O abandonment sublime!
Very God Himself is bearing All the sufferings of time."
 A. The word "condescending" refers to the fact that Jesus made Himself
of no reputation or emptied Himself: Phil. 2.5--7
 B. The idea of "abandonment" may refer to Christ's statement on the
cross about His feeling forsaken by God: Matt. 27.46
 C. When Jesus died, it was not just for a selkect few, but He tasted
death for every person from all times: Heb. 2.9

IV. Stanza 4 says that on the cross Jesus accomjplished what God planned
for our spiritual needs
"Evermore for human failure By His passion we can plead;
God has born all mortal anguish, Surely He will know our need."
 A. Human failure is the sin which separates us from God: Isa. 59.1-2
 B. However, by Christ's passion or suffering, we can come before the
throne to plead for help: Heb. 4.14-16
 C. Because He bore our mortal anguish, we can be assured that He knows
what we need and offers pardon from our sins: Rom. 4.7-8

     CONCL.:  When we talk about the cross of Calvary, we are not
speaking of just the instrument on which Jesus Christ was slain for the
sins of the world.  Because of the blessings that are available as a
result of what Jesus did there, the cross is also used symbolically
throughout the New Testament to refer to the very heart of the message of
the gospel.  Therefore, we should be ever thankful for what happened on
that "Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow."

      Brotherly,
Wayne S. Walker
9024 Amona Dr.
Affton, MO  63123
home phone: (314) 638-4710
office phone: (314) 544-1612
e-mail: wswalker310 at juno.com
website: www.defenderoftruth.com

     Notes: Other hymn studies are available at the Defender of Truth
website.  Also, some of my previous hymn studies are now included in book
that I have written entitled Songs of Zion.  It can be ordered from the
publisher by calling 1-800-423-2484 or going to www.faith-facts.com.  And
if you would like to receive a similar daily hymn study by e-mail, you
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