[031] A Message From A Poem – Before Him Lay The Cross

[031] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEFORE HIM LAY THE CROSS

We have a retrospective view of the cross in a very limited understanding, but the Lord’s view in the Garden of gethsemane was a forward one. The anticipation of that ordeal was a dreadful one. That comes out in the description and this is just one part – {{Matthew 26:38-39 Then He said to them, “MY SOUL IS DEEPLY GRIEVED TO THE POINT OF DEATH. Remain here and keep watch with Me,” and He went a little beyond them and fell on His face and prayed saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me, yet not as I will, but as You will,”}}

The purpose of this poem was to think a little into the anticipation of the cross. Jesus was acquainted of course with the Old Testament scriptures, having been the author of the word of God and Psalms 22 and 69 are the prophetic prayers of the Lord on the cross. Here is just a snippet from those Psalms –

{{Psalm 22:13-16 “They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws, and You lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me. A band of evildoers has encompassed me. They pierced my hands and my feet.”}}

Psalm 69:1-3 “Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire and there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters and a flood overflows me. I am weary with my crying. My throat is parched. My eyes fail while I wait for my God.”}}

Preachers ask all the time, “What led the Lord Jesus to the cross? Why did He maintain His course?” The answer they give is love as in – {{John 3:16-17 “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life, for God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.”}}

I tried to look at the conflict of the cross, but also at the impelling strength of what lay beyond the cross. We know God’s love was eternal and reached to eternity. There on view were the billions of redeemed souls testifying to the fruit of Calvary. The lord’s endurance was this eternal view.

One verse that is always paramount in all this is the following – {{Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”}}

I suppose all I ask here is that you consider each stanza carefully because I have tried to look beyond just the word descriptions.

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BEFORE HIM LAY THE CROSS

So great the price to rescue us!

Such high indebtedness!

But that’s the way our God did choose,

That mankind, He might bless.

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The cross that loomed before the Lord,

Was dark that garden night.

Did He shrink back or doubt God’s cause?

God’s will was His delight.

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How did the Lord anticipate

The cross before its time?

The cup, He prayed, to pass from Him -

Filled up with sorrow’s wine.

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With suff’ring’s promise on the slate,

What did impel Him on?

It was the joy that lay before,

He fixed His gaze upon.

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The shamefulness of that rough cross,

He knew stood in the way.

Despising shame and suffering,

True love and joy, His stay.

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And so, with resolution firm,

Continued, as God willed,

Endured all that sin had caused;

Sin’s penalty He stilled.

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Now rescued through His boundless love,

Redeemed, and lifted up,

We thank the Lamb with all our heart,

That He drank all that cup.

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20 June 1999 R. E. Ferguson 8-6-8-6