You Chose the Cross (Lost in Wonder)

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In two weeks it will be Easter; for now it’s still Lent. This morning at church we shall sing this song as we reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross

You chose the cross with ev’ry breath;
the perfect life, the perfect death.
You chose the cross.
A crown of thorns You wore for us,
and crowned us with eternal life;
You chose the cross.
And though Your soul was overwhelmed with pain,
obedient to death, You overcame.

Jesus repeatedly tells his followers that he is going to die. He’s will not avoid it or oppose it. He’s choosing the cross. He’s looking forward to Good Friday… betrayal, grief isolation, overwhelming pain. It’s is part of the divine plan that Jesus chooses.

I’m lost in wonder, I’m lost in love,
I’m lost in praise forevermore.
Because of Jesus’ unfailing love,
I am forgiven, I am restored.

I reflect again on the familiar. Moving through the gospel story I go deeper; I’m soon out of my depth. I respond intellectually, emotionally, spiritually… I don’t fully understand. I’m lost… in the wonder, the love, there’s feelings and thoughts of unworthiness, humbling, gratitude, praise…  

350 years ago John Bunyan, in Pilgrim’s Progress, reflecting on the cross, put it like this: …Up this way, therefore, did burdened Christian run; but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back.

He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending; and upon that place stood a Cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up to the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble; and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.’

I’m lost in wonder, I’m lost in love,
I’m lost in praise forevermore.
Because of Jesus’ unfailing love,
I am forgiven, I am restored.

Bunyan continues: ‘Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said, with a merry heart, “He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death.” Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks.’

9 thoughts on “You Chose the Cross (Lost in Wonder)”

      1. I have bought several copies of a beautiful children’s version of Pilgrim’s Progress for the little ones in my life. The book does still though need an adult interpreter. If you’re interested, you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Pilgrims-Progress-Illustrated-Bunyans/dp/0802420532/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NBITGHQN4F8O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YhyB2rpUYxefmROebcqB05DZ3R3bXn6snOpwiWwDC8aIp3RpNEryLRgQXIsWNPEPt6K0P81IBE08bEbtln1tRnZlcCmC-jU9t51Ftu-DYUoupqcS3-n4HvsrebkjUQTsh3ER0pOtU1gWHtEM97s3foGllj0ZXwfIi3UrSoJPVxY-TuPJNm6qKLuhyi29Aaq0xYu7S2KJUHrWEq8VHneUwi2MsiAOqJ2h2_eHZz8q-jU.3ZJwIwkgMdiWnr1vO0Qle8B9ZDfTQ7J1R-zWlFosvW0&dib_tag=se&keywords=pilgrims+progress+for+kids&qid=1743969665&sprefix=pilgrims+prog%2Caps%2C587&sr=8-1.

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  2. “Pilgrim’s Progress” is such a good picture of the Christian way. I liked too John Bunyan’s phrase on your copy of his title page – “I have used similitudes”. So often essential in trying to describe the Way.

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