In the Shadow of the Cross

 

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

—Isaiah 9:6

Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Advent is over. Christmas has begun. But, for Christians devoted to following in the footsteps of our Savior, we remain ever mindful that the manger at Bethlehem always and ever exists under the shadow of the cross of Calvary. For Jesus came to earth, Incarnate God, in order to die in our place.

Upon considering the birth of Jesus, Samuel Longfellow—the brother of the celebrated poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow—penned these words to a solemn hymn:

Beneath the shadow of the cross,
As earthly hopes remove,
His new commandment Jesus gives,
His blessed word of love.

O bond of union, strong and deep!
O bond of perfect peace!
Not even the lifted cross can harm,
If we but hold to this.

Then, Jesus, be thy spirit ours!
And swift our feet shall move
To deeds of pure self-sacrifice,
“And the sweet tasks of love.”

During Advent, we wait to celebrate Christ’s birth. Last night, at Christmas Eve services all across the globe, the last candle of the Advent Wreath was lit—the white candle, known as the “Christ candle.”

But, during Advent, we also wait to celebrate the return of Jesus, His second coming, that time when He will gather His own to Himself and banish Satan to eternal fire.

We continue to wait His return with eager expectation. His coming will not be a surprise because we wait for Him, long for Him, and anticipate His coming.

The surety of His return is unquestioned. For the prophecy of Isaiah was once fulfilled in a stable in Bethlehem. And so, the prophecy of Christ’s return will also be fulfilled in God’s time.

Our Savior was born, he lived, he died, and he rose again. Isaiah’s words were fulfilled, as written in Isaiah 9:6:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

So, dear ones, this day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Lord, and King. We do so by looking at a manger. But we recognize that falling upon that manger is the shadow of the cross. The cross upon which Jesus died for you and for me.

If you are reading this and you do not yet know this Jesus, I would remind you today of the words to a song written by Ira F. Stanphill and sung by many choirs and quartets over the years:

The cross upon which Jesus died,
Is a shelter in which we can hide;
And its grace so free is sufficient for me,
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea

There’s room at the cross for you,
There’s room at the cross for me,
Tho millions have come, There’s still room for one
Yes, there’s room at the cross for you.

The hand of my Savior is strong,
And the love of my Savior is long;
Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain,
The blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain.

There’s room at the cross for you,
There'’s room at the cross for me,
Tho millions have come, There’s still room for one
Yes, there’s room at the cross for you.

Here’s one particular version of this song that I hope you will enjoy:

 

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