Beneath the cross of Jesus

1
Beneath the cross of Jesus
  I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock
  Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
  A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
  And the burden of the day.
2
Oh, safe and happy shelter!
  Oh, refuge tried and sweet!
Oh, trysting place where heaven’s love
  And heaven’s justice meet.
As to the holy patriarch
  That wondrous dream was given,
So is my Savior by the cross
  A ladder up to heaven.
3
There lies beneath its shadow,
  But on the farther side,
The darkness of an awful grave
  That gapes both deep and wide;
And there between us stands the cross,
  Two arms outstretched to save,
Like a watchman set to guard the way
  From that eternal grave.
4
Upon that cross of Jesus
  Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One,
  Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart, with tears,
  Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of His glorious love,
  And my own worthlessness.
5
I take, O cross, thy shadow
  For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
  The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by,
  To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
  My glory all the cross.
47
Carlene

Clinton, TN, United States

This song came to mind during my devotion this morning. I only remembered a few lines and looked it up. This hymn is a reminder to fix my affections on things above.." I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face."

Christ Is Sufficient..

I love these old hymns ... thanks for making them available.


Lisa Isaac

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Thank you so much my family prayer time has become so lively with the accompanying piano .... as we are in the Lent season this hymn becomes all the more touching


Joe

Nixa, MO, United States

Thank you. In my quiet time this morning I was reading a book by Andrew Murray and something he said caused me to return to my childhood and hearing this song in church. What a great song. What a glorious Savior.


Bette Kitt

Fairview, NC, United States

In my prayer time this morning I went into the deep recesses of my mind as I was focusing on the 5 Fold Benefits of the Cross and this hymn came to me. Thank you. I loved singing ALL the verses. I have been a believer over 50 years and still admin all of His Glorious love and my unworthiness. ❤️


Judy Boring

Liberty, MO, United States

Thank you. I didn't remember the name of the hymn. I was just remembering most of the words of the fourth verse.


S Ho

New Milford, Connecticut, United States

Thank you Kelly, from TN for the original text.


Rosie

Falls Church, VA, United States

Dave, that was beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I read a quote in Streams in the Desert that seems appropriate. "Call nothing small if it bears us His message." That ray of sun brought the Son near that day.


Dave

Staten Island, NY, United States

This song has been in my head all morning.

I started singing it aloud as I walked outside to take in my mail after the rain.

“I take, O cross, thy shadow

For my abiding place;

I ask no other sunshine than

The sunshine of His face; ”

Right before I got to “I ask no other sunshine…” the sun came out and shined down on me.

Amazing.

A great reminder to fix my attention on His face. And now another hymn comes to mind, “…look full in His wonderful face. ”

I’m going to put my phone down now and do that without distraction for a bit.

My Jesus!


Kelly

Tennessee, United States

The line is actually correct in the original hymn:

The wonders of my stricken heart, with tears, Two wonders I confess-

The wonders of redeeming love

And my own worthlessness.

It has been changed, in my opinion, because it has been changed from divine truth to something much lower to make people comfortable.

Smitten instead of stricken?? Is our love not as strong anymore?

Love is glorious but not redeeming- because that might offend some people.

Worthlessness changed to unworthiness because we want to lead people to believe there’s some amount of respectability left in them even though they may be headed to Hell?

Be careful how hymns have been changed to meet the world’s standards today... dumbing things down to make them more comfortable.


Gin

Northport, Alabama, United States

A cross hangs on my wall near the sofa. I sat and turned to the cross. I thought, I am beneath the Cross of Jesus. Then recalling this hymn I could remember the first 4 lines if this song from long ago as a kid !

Refreshing my memory today, I wanted to rehearse this tune. It is the season of Lent. I have a pennent ❤. Coming back to the fold and in the arms of Jesus.

Glory be to the Father.