1. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross 1707
Born in Southampton, England while father imprisoned as a non-conformist.
Brilliant- studied Latin (4), Greek (9), French (11), Hebrew (13)
Rhymed everything, even conversation- finally spanked for it- his tearful reply:
“O father do some pity take, And I will no more verses make.”
At 18 complained to his father about monotonous singing of the Psalms-
“The singing of God’s praise is part of worship most closely related to heaven, yet it’s performance among us is the worst on earth. Father replied, “All right young man, give us something better”. He wrote a hymn by the next Sunday and each week for the next two years- eventually wrote over 600 (perhaps 750). At the Cross, Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
I sing the Mighty Power of God, Joy to the World.
Revolutionary and controversial- wrote on something other than the Psalms, (defended this in his first collection, Hymns and Spiritual Songs); also wrote in the 1st person- made worship personal- dramatically changed worship from a spectator to a participant. He is considered the Father of English Hymnody.
Wrote When I Survey the Wondrous Cross for the Lord’s Supper, original name- “Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ” British Poet and Chair of Poetry at Oxford called it “the greatest hymn in the English language”, Charles Wesley who wrote 7,000 hymns said that he would trade them all to have written this one. Had 5 verses, 4th put in brackets.
Tune we sing it to arranged by an American, Lowell Mason in 1824, adapting a Gregorian chant. Tune is titled: Hamburg.

2. 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.
Gal 2:20; 1 Cor 2:7-8; Acts 3:14-15a; Phil 3:3-8
Survey- (of a person or their eyes) look carefully and thoroughly at (someone or something), especially so as to appraise them.
I- I must look at the cross myself, through my own eyes and not the eyes of another
Gal 2:20
Wondrous-causing wonder or amazement: very beautiful or impressive; marvelous, extraordinary
Cross- Roman crucifixion was an ancient method of execution in which the victim's hands and feet were bound and nailed to a cross. It was one of the most painful and disgraceful methods of capital punishment. The Roman cross was formed of wood, typically with a vertical stake and a horizontal cross beam near the top. Wooden planks were usually fastened to the vertical stake as a footrest or seat, allowing the victim to rest his weight and lift himself for a breath, thus prolonging suffering and delaying death for up to three days. Unsupported, the victim would hang entirely from nail-pierced wrists, severely restricting breathing and circulation. This excruciating ordeal would lead to exhaustion, suffocation, brain death and heart failure.. As a deterrent to crime, crucifixions were carried out in highly public places with the criminal charges posted on the cross above the victim's head.
On which the Prince of Glory died- 1 Cor 2:7-8; Acts 3:14-15a
My richest gain, I count but loss and pour contempt* on all my pride- Phil 3:3-8
*the attitude or feeling of a person towards a thing that he considers worthless or despicable.”

3. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
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.
Jn 20:28; Gal 6:14; 2 Cor 11:30; 1 Cor 1:18, 26-31
Forbid it, Lord- refuse to allow it.
That I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God (Lord)
Thomas (Jn 20:28); - Gal 6:14; ; 2 Cor 11:30; 1 Cor 1:18, 26-31
All the vain things that charm me most I sacrifice them to His blood-
Lk 14:33

4. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
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?
Mk 15:17-19; Isa 53:3; 1 Jn 3:16
Literally what flowed down was blood from head, crown of thorns (Mk 15:17-19-) beat him with a reed, a staff made of reed), hands and feet, from the nails-
Poetically what flowed down was sorrow and love-
Man of sorrows- Isa 53:3; we know love by this- 1 Jn 3:16-
Was there ever a time comparable where such love and sorrow met?
Or thorns composed so rich a crown? Normally made of precious metal and jewels

5. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.
Gal 6:14b
The viewing of the blood flowing over His body has an impact-
This prompts the decision, the determination, the commitment:
for me to be dead to the world and for the world to be dead to me.
As far as I’m concerned, the world is dead; as far as the world is concerned, I’m dead.
Gal 6:14b

6. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
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.
2 Cor 5:14-15; Gal 2:20
What can I do in response, in return for what Jesus did on the cross,
What can I give him?
Love so amazing, so divine-
Demands the giving of myself completely to Him- 2Cor 5:14-15; Gal 2:20.
Oh, the wonder and amazement,
That a creature, human formed,
Can behold the Lamb’s atonement,
And not bow, by love disarmed.
Sinner, oh behold His passion,
It will melt thy heart of stone;
Come, receive His great salvation,
Meekly bow, thy Savior own.

7. Oh, the wonder and amazement,
That a creature, human formed,
Can behold the Lamb’s atonement,
And not bow, by love disarmed.

8. Sinner, oh behold His passion,
It will melt thy heart of stone;
Come, receive His great salvation,
Meekly bow, thy Savior own.