Forgotten Honour - Easter Hymns 3

I recently learnt that the Hymn 'Beneath the Cross of Jesus' was written by a Scottish lady in the mid 1800s, Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane, who died when she was only 38. Only two of her hymns are still sung today - 'There were Ninety and Nine' and this one.

She describes what the cross means to her and the comfort it brings and the hope in the midst of her and our, own unworthiness.

However it is the last few lines of the hymn, the culmination of her thoughts, that is worth looking at.

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 Upon the cross of Jesus

mine eye at times can see

the very dying form of One

who suffered there for me:

and from my stricken heart with tears

two wonders I confess,

the wonders of redeeming love

and my unworthiness.

3 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.

Once again we see a hymnwriter as understanding the purpose of the cross in terms of shame and honour [glory].

She realises that there is no shame to be concerned about but the shame of our sinful self. While others might seek the 'sunshine' of the face of the world (in other words the approval and applause and welcome of the world), she is content to let that go by, to not seek the world's glory. She is not motivated by seeking gain and avoiding loss in this world, but is able to rest in the fact that her glory, her honour, rests in the honour of another - Christ of the cross. The Cross is the place where  she can rest from all worthless strivings for status and approval in this world. The shame that the world fears, she is not concerned about, and she has the assurance that the only shame she should be concerned about - her sinful self, is taken care of in the cross. Instead of seeking for worth in this world, she knows that unsurpassed satisfying honour is hers in the midst of her total unworthiness for it. God's redeeming love has brought her all the glory and honour she will ever need.

Understanding the shame context of the cross and the glory it gives us brings rich and joyous hope!