The Power of the Cross

I have been preparing for the upcoming snow retreat- even though we were pretty sure we were going to be in China- we have gone to about 10 in a row and this is generally one of the highlights of our year. In the preparation we have new songs-to our band- that we introduce to the staff and students and one of them is "The Power of the Cross". This is not new to me, as we sang it in choir a few years ago and now we sing it in "big church", but since I have been listening to it in my truck with no distractions I have been able to really listen and contemplate what the words are saying.

Though you may know this song, read the words slowly and put yourself in the place it is talking about. Think about the road to Calvary and what that looks like, sounds like, feels like. Think about the beating and pounding of His body. Can you see the pain on His face? Try to understand Christ becoming sin for US- what did that feel like to Him? What did bearing our every weight of sin mean to Him? What must have they been thinking when the light was gone and how did the curtain get torn in two? What was it like to see the dead raised to life? What will it be like to be free from suffering? What will it be like to have no more death? Because His life was given for us, we now have life to live. The Son of God was slain for US- really? What a love- what an amazing cost and what an amazing result- we stand forgiven at the cross. We are standing, completely forgiven- at the cross.

The Power of the Cross

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

Chorus:
This, the power of the cross:
Christ became sin for us
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Every bitter thought,
Every evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the victory cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

This, the power of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us
What a love! What a cost!

We stand forgiven at the cross.

Thankyou Music