Beneath The Cross

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 noon tide heat,
And the burden of the day.

2) Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten 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.

This hymn was written by the "Sunbeam of Melrose" Elizabeth Clephane.  This Scottish born daughter of a sheriff only lived to 39 due to poor health.  During her short life she gave generously to the poor.  She even sold a horse and carriage just so she could more to those in need. Elizabeth only wrote eight hymns, but they are rich in imagery.  In "Beneath the Cross of Jesus," she is drawing from Isa. 32:1-2, which states, "Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice. Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great in a weary land."  I think she does an excellent job of capturing the respite we gain with Christ's redeeming love.

I remember trying to sing this song at RUF at Penn State.  This was the contemporary version that we were trying to sing.  We did it often at App State, but the worship team couldn't quite get the split part at PSU. Unfortunately, they asked me for help.  I'm not a musician, not even close.  I played trombone until junior year of high school, then broke my instrument ripping a hole in the slide.  That was pretty much game over for me.  I couldn't help my students one bit even though I was familiar with the tune. Doesn't mean I don't like the song though.  I absolutely love the line, "Content to let the world go by, / To know no gain nor loss, / My sinful self my only shame, / My glory all the cross."  Our identity as Christians is Jesus.  We look to Him in everything.  I'm a student, I'm a South Carolinian, I'm App State grad, I'm a Thomas, etc ... but none of that is who I really am.  None of that is my identity.  They are more like character traits of my identity.  My identity lies in Jesus.  I am a Christian.  It is the cross that defines me.