Lyrics
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.
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 stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess;
The wonders of redeeming love and my own worthlessness.
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 or loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.
Song History & Meaning
Composer / Hymnodist: Elizabeth C. Clephane
Life's daily journey can often feel like a dry, weary desert, filled with overwhelming burdens. Yet, the cross of Jesus stands as a shelter of grace—a mighty rock offering rest and shade from life's intense heat. Looking upon His sacrificial love, our hearts are humbled by our need and overwhelmed by His mercy. Today, we are invited to rest beneath His cross, finding our ultimate comfort and hope in His presence.
📖 Related Scripture Passages:
- Galatians 6:14: “But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
- Isaiah 32:2: “Each one shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a shelter from the storm, as streams of water in a dry place, as the shade of a large rock in a weary land.”
- Romans 5:8: “But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”