Upon the Cross Extended

The Apostle Peter writes, "[Jesus] Himself born 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" (1 Peter 2:24). Lutheran hymn writer Paul Gerhardt's depiction of the crucifixion in "Upon the Cross Extended" (LSB 453) leads us to the same place, to the healing of the wounds of sin (stanza 5), then to eternal rest in Christ (stanza 7). 

Here are some of the vivid pictures that Gerhardt paints: "Your Lord suspended" (stanza 1), "Your Savior yields His breath" (stanza 1), "To shame and blows and bitter death" (stanza 1), "Blood streams from each pore" (stanza 2), "From His great heart came flowing sighs welling from its deepest core" (stanza 2), "Your head with thorns surrounded" (stanza 5).

The saving power of the cross restores, guides, and sustains each Christian, even in the test of life (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). And even when life is ending, Jesus has led the way to God's great eternal rest (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

Today, we remember what is so good about Good Friday.

1 Upon the cross extended
See, world, your Lord suspended.
Your Savior yields His breath.
The Prince of Life from heaven
Himself has freely given
To shame and blows and bitter death.

2 Come, see these things and ponder,
Your soul will fill with wonder
As blood streams from each pore.
Through grief beyond all knowing
From His great heart came flowing
Sighs welling from its deepest core.

3 Who is it, Lord, that bruised You?
Who has so sore abused You
And caused You all Your woe?
We all must make confession
Of sin and dire transgression
While You no ways of evil know.

4 I caused Your grief and sighing
By evils multiplying
As countless as the sands.
I caused the woes unnumbered
With which Your soul is cumbered,
Your sorrows raised by wicked hands.

5 Your soul in griefs unbounded,
Your head with thorns surrounded,
You died to ransom me.
The cross for me enduring,
The crown for me securing,
You healed my wounds and set me free.

6 Your cords of love, my Savior,
Bind me to You forever,
I am no longer mine.
To You I gladly tender
All that my life can render
And all I have to You resign.

7 Your cross I place before me;
Its saving pow’r restore me,
Sustain me in the test.
It will, when life is ending,
Be guiding and attending
My way to Your eternal rest.

Text: Public domain