SONGS WE SING: ‘MUST JESUS BEAR THE CROSS ALONE?’
1 Peter 2:21-25, Matthew 16:24-25
#BadBadHymn
SING ‘MUST JESUS BEAR THE CROSS ALONE’
INTRODUCTION
This morning we are continuing a sermon series called: “The Songs We Sing.” Part of worshipping God is singing. It is not the only part, but is a significant part.
FOCUS ON “WORSHIP”
Worship is an important attitude of the heart and a total disposition of our soul focusing on God and His Word. As we focus on different songs we sing from now until Easter, understand that the songs are the surface focus, but the real focus is the direction of our hearts and minds when we sing. Worship is our focus!
Worship of God Almighty is our focus.
Worship claiming the blood of Christ is our focus.
Worship in the Spirit and in Truth is our focus.
And yet we often focus on music as an important part of worship… because it is! Music is something that can connect us to God in unique ways. Music gets inside our hearts and allows us to express ourselves to God with our whole being. Singing and instruments are part of worship all throughout the Bible. The Apostle Paul encourages the Ephesian (5:19) and Colossian churches to dig into singing well. Colossians 3:16 says:
READ COLOSSIANS 3:16 (ESV)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
I find it interesting that in Colossians (and in Ephesians), the Apostle Paul mentions three different types of songs. He first mentions “psalms” from the Bible put to music which in Paul’s day would have focused on the harp. He then mentions “hymns” which would be a more formal song written for the church which is a song to be sung to God for praise. Lastly, he mentions “spiritual songs” which are a third type of song which in my mind tends to be a simple chorus of some kind.
Which is better? Which is best? God never says. Our Father God is glorified and praised by all types of music when He is the focus. That is the key! You and I cannot be the focus. The church cannot be the focus. Life cannot be the focus. The best worship song… no matter the style or instruments used or the meter or the beat… is the psalm, hymn, or spiritual song that directs our souls to God Almighty.
This morning we are going to focus on a hymn. If you want to look at the hymn in the hymnal, it is #189. Because we are equal opportunity here, you may also call the book with songs a her-nal and it is also on page #189. The song we will focus on is the worst hymn that has ever been produced (IN MY OPINION).
There are hymns that have nothing to do with anything and they are better.
There are hymns that are hard to sing and they are better.
There are hymns that are completely focused on us and they are better.
Why is this hymn the worst?
This hymn is the worst because it teaches incorrect theology about Jesus Christ.
Thomas Shepherd (1665-1739) was a minister in Nottingham, England in the early 1700s which was when he wrote this terrible hymn. I did not know him personally, but he should be ashamed of himself. This hymn has been printed and re-printed in over 1200 hymnals. His next most popular hymn is entitled “Must Simon Bear His Cross Alone?” which I am just going to leave alone today (hymnary.org/person/Shepherd_Thomas1665).
SONG LYRICS: ‘MUST JESUS BEAR THE CROSS ALONE’ (optional)
1 Must Jesus bear the cross alone And all the world go free? No, there's a cross for every one,
And there's a cross for me.
2 The consecrated cross I'll bear Till death shall set me free, And then go home my crown to wear, For there's a crown for me.
3 Upon the crystal pavement, down At Jesus' pierced feet, Joyful, I'll cast my golden crown
And His dear name repeat.
4 O precious cross! O glorious crown! O resurrection day! Ye angels, from the stars come down
And bear my soul away.
TRANSITION
As we think through this hymn, we are going to first look at the central belief in Christianity and then how the hymn communicates that.
CENTRAL BELIEF IN CHRISTIANITY
It is not hard to say that Jesus dying on the cross is the central belief in Christianity. Jesus is what makes Christianity different from all other religions. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is the central event in Christianity. What we believe about Jesus and His death on the cross is supremely important. Not understanding the cross of Christ can lead to different issues. A misunderstanding of the meaning of the cross and Jesus’ death on the cross can lead to several spiritual, theological, and practical consequences, depending on what is misunderstood.
A misunderstanding of the cross can lead to a distorted view of salvation. If Jesus' death is not correctly understood as an atonement for sin, we may either minimize its importance or believe that salvation depends on human effort rather than God's grace. Jesus’ death is atonement of our sin for us. This is significant.
Not understanding the death of Jesus can lead us to a misinterpretation of God's character. The cross is one of the most unjust and cruel ways to die, but a proper understanding also includes love, mercy, and justice all working together through Christ’s sacrifice. Jesus’ death was cruel and terrible, but showed love for us. This is significant.
If Jesus' death is seen only as an unfortunate or accidental event rather than God’s divine on-purpose plan for salvation, it may lead to doubts about the resurrection’s significance and its role in Christian faith. Jesus’ death was the plan for humanity before He ever made us. This is significant.
If we do not grasp the meaning of Jesus' death as bringing reconciliation with God, we may struggle with fear, guilt, or uncertainty about our relationship with Him because we are very sinful and He is very holy. There is a lack of assurance about salvation and hope when we misunderstand the cross. Assurance of salvation is significant.
TRANSITION
As we think through this hymn, we’ve looked at the central belief in Christianity and now we will look at how the hymn communicates that.
THE CROSS OF CHRIST
Why do I mention these ideas? I mention these possible misinterpretations because the hymn “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone” by Thomas Shepherd has us singing ideas that are not correct. The very first verse is the complete problem.
SONG LYRICS
“Must Jesus bear the cross alone And all the world go free? No, there's a cross for every one,
And there's a cross for me.”
The first verse of the hymn asks a question and then gives an answer. The question that is asked is about Jesus and His death on the cross. The question asks if Jesus “must bear the cross alone and all the world go free.” There are two parts to this question:
First, the hymn is asking if everything that Jesus did is completely on Him. Is the cross, death, and sacrifice all on the shoulders of Jesus? The hymn is having us think through that everything that is described in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19 is solely the responsibility of Jesus of Nazareth.
Second, the hymn is asking of everything that Jesus did on the cross results in freedom for the world. These are solid questions. It is good for us to reflect consistently and purposefully about what Jesus endured and subjected Himself to on the cross. You and I as believers in Jesus must meditate regularly about the death of Jesus. The questions are good!
The problem comes with the answer in the hymn.
The problem comes with the answer which is wrong.
The problem comes with the answer which leads us to misinterpret the cross.
The answer that the hymn offers is completely wrong. The first verse answers the two-part question with an answer which denies the crucifixion of Jesus as we should understand it. The hymn states that: No, you and I bear responsibility with Jesus. You and I die with Jesus. Not only us, but every single person in the world also dies just like Jesus providing salvation. This is simply wrong. The hymn says: No!
The answer is: Yes! “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? Yes! That’s the point of the crucifixion to pardon you and me.” Let us look at 1 Peter 2 to help us frame the correct answer to the question the hymn proposes.
READ 1 PETER 2:21-24 (ESV)
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. 23 When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly. 24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
The Apostle Peter tells us in his letter that Jesus Christ suffered for us, left us an example, and enabled us to die to sin and live in righteousness. Yes! Jesus did that. Jesus alone did that. Jesus died so that we could be righteous. Jesus had wounds so that we could be healed. Jesus did not die leaving us an example so that we too should die for our sins like He did, but Jesus died as a substitutionary example showing us that He died for our sins and offers forgiveness. The way to return to the Shepherd and Overseer of our soul is by accepting that Jesus died FOR us. Jesus died IN OUR PLACE so you and I don’t have to die for our sins.
A key word when thinking about the death of Jesus on the cross is: “substitute.”
A key word when thinking about the death of Jesus on the cross is: “substitutionary.”
2 Peter 2 (specifically verse 24) is not the only place where we see that Jesus died in our place for our sins so that we do not have to die for our sins. Jesus takes the punishment that we deserve. Many other Bible passages communicate the same Truth:
Isaiah 53:4-6 predicts that the Suffering Servant, Who is Jesus, takes on the iniquity of us all and gives us peace by His wounds. The Messiah suffers for the sins of others.
In John 10 Jesus Himself says…
READ JOHN 10:11 (ESV)
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
In Romans 3:23-25, the Apostle Paul says that we are justified freely by the death of Jesus and He offers us His shed blood as atonement for our sins. What does that mean? He paid the penalty for our sins so we don’t have to. The same apostle in Romans 5 (verse 8), tells us plainly that Jesus Christ died FOR us. Paul says the same truth, but with different words in 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Galatians 3:13 that Jesus became sin for us and became a curse for us so that we could be freed from the eternal consequences and punishment of sin.
Hebrews 9 shares with us that Jesus’ death on the cross was a sacrifice once for all for all of us.
READ HEBREWS 9:28 (ESV)
“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.”
SUMMARY/APPLICATION
“Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free?”
Uh… Yes! That’s the point of the crucifixion to pardon you and me. Thanks be to God the Father Who loved us so much that He sent His One and Only Son to take our place on the cross. You and I do not have to die for our sins. Our blood does not have to be on our own heads because Jesus took our place and took upon Himself the eternal consequences of all our sin. This is a proper view of the cross. The key word to remember is: substitutionary.
Verses 2, 3, and 4 of the traditional hymn may have some value in focusing us on Jesus Christ, the gifts of salvation, or God’s absolute care for our soul when we die, but that value is completely overshadowed by the blatant false first verse.
TRANSITION
The last part of verse 1 in the classic hymn says: “And there's a cross for me.” I have just showed you that there is not a cross for us because of Jesus’ substitutionary death. Jesus takes our cross for us. However, those of you who know your Bible well know that Jesus Himself tells us to “take up our [his] cross and follow Him [Me] in Matthew 16, Mark 8, and Luke 9. It is a verse repeated in all three of those Gospels. How can both be true? What about the cross we bear?
THE CROSS WE BEAR
Let us read from Matthew 16 as we think about this last part of verse 1 of the hymn…
READ MATTHEW 16:24-25 (ESV)
“Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
To help us understand fully, I want to also read the same two verses from the Amplified Version and The Message version so there is no misunderstanding of what Jesus teaches.
READ MATTHEW 16:24-25 (AMP)
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].”
READ MATTHEW 16:24-25 (MSG)
“Then Jesus went to work on His disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let Me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I Am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow Me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, My way, to finding yourself, your true self.”
Jesus Christ is teaching His disciples about what it means to follow Him. In Matthew 16, Simon Peter had just confessed Jesus as the Christ (verses 13-20) and also rebuked Him that He should not die (verses 21-23). Jesus is explaining that following Jesus as a true follower will not always be easy. Jesus likens following Him to carrying a cross. He does this in Matthew 16 and it is repeated in parallel verses in Mark 8 and Luke 9.
It is a metaphor.
It is a word picture.
It is an object lesson.
Following Jesus as a disciple is not an easy going type of life, but is at times one that focuses on sacrifice, denial of self, and always allowing Jesus to lead as Lord.
A key word when thinking about the cross in this passage is: “metaphor.”
A key word when thinking about Jesus’ metaphor is: “discipleship.”
A key word when thinking about discipleship is: “follow.”
When Jesus teaches His disciples and by extension us about what it means to follow Him, He is not telling us that we have to die on a cross just like Him. He is not saying that to be a Christian we must also die on a cross for our sins or even for the sins of another person. Jesus did that for us! Jesus is our substitutionary death! Jesus’ death offers salvation to anyone who would accept Him. Jesus is the Christ!
When Jesus teaches His disciples and by extension us about what it means to follow Him, He is telling us that “the cross we bear” in the Christian life is one of sacrifice and denial of our natural selves for the sake of Jesus.
We deny self and take up our cross and follow Jesus no matter where He may lead.
We push aside our sinful desires and accept Jesus’ way of life and make decisions based on Him.
We accept that God’s will and way is best and we surrender to His will and way.
SUMMARY/APPLICATION
“Must Jesus bear the cross alone And all the world go free? No, there's a cross for every one,
And there's a cross for me.”
There is only a “cross for me” as the hymn states in the sense that Jesus uses the cross as a metaphor for sacrificial living in submission to Him as Savior and Lord. The hymn is not clear. The hymn makes it seem like you and I need to be co-saviors or co-workers with Jesus or somehow help Him save us.
No! There is not a cross for you and me just like Jesus because Jesus paid it all.
Yes! There is a cross metaphorically for you and me as we sacrificially follow Jesus as disciples.
STORY
I would like to conclude with a story and hopefully bring this all together.
There once was a woman named Earleen, a devoted Christian who had spent years living the Christian life and serving in God's kingdom. She served in her church tirelessly—teaching Sunday school, feeding the homeless, attending every Bible study ever offered. Yet, deep inside, she struggled with doubt, always feeling as if she had to carry her own cross in order to be worthy of salvation.
One night, Earleen had a dream. She found herself walking down a long road, weighed down by a heavy wooden cross strapped to her back. With every step, she grew weaker. She saw others walking beside her—some carried crosses of their own, others walked freely. Then, in the distance, she saw Jesus, standing at the foot of a towering hill with His arms open wide.
“Lord, I am trying," Earleen gasped. "I am carrying my cross just as You commanded."
Jesus looked at her with love and spoke gently, "Earleen, why are you carrying what I have already borne for you?"
Earleen was confused. "But You said to take up my cross and follow You."
Jesus nodded. "Yes, but the cross I spoke of is not a burden, but surrender. You are trying to earn what I freely gave. You are trying to carry what I carry. Lay it down, and follow Me in trust.”
At that moment, Earleen understood. The weight lifted from her shoulders—not because her work for God didn't matter, but because she finally realized that her salvation had already been won. Her cross was not to suffer for her sins—that was Jesus' alone to do—but to walk in faith, surrendering her will to God's.
When she awoke, Earleen's heart was lighter. From that day on, she served not out of fear, but out of love, knowing that Christ had borne the ultimate cross for her.
CONCLUSION (Hymn re-written)
May your heart be lighter today knowing:
“Jesus bears the cross alone and all the world goes free! Yes! That’s the point of the crucifixion to pardon you and me. The consecrated cross He bears, His death sets us free. We will go home wearing our crown, there's a crown for me. Upon crystal pavement, down at Jesus' pierced feet, joyful, we will cast our golden crowns. His Dear Name repeating! O precious cross! O glorious crown! O resurrection day! His angels from heaven come down and bear our soul away.”
INVITATION
RE-READ JOHN 10:11 (ESV)
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
Please understand that Jesus laid His life down for you. He loves you. Jesus wants to restore you to a functional and abiding relationship with God the Father through His blood and the gift of the Holy Spirit. That comes trough faith, confession, and baptism in Christ Jesus. Will you believe in Him today? Will you surrender today? Will you accept Him today?
