As I was listening to this absolutely incredible song, I realized what I have been missing in church – The Cross.
In our churches, we hear sermons on everything but the cross. We have sermons on marriage, family, friends, TV, movies, money and the list could go on for days, but we lack the simple story that changed the world. We want to have people hear sermons that are “relevant.” Hey, I am not knocking the ideas of trying to present truth to people in relevant ways, but what I do believe is missing is the Gospel message in our churches that Jesus came to save. However, what is so amazing is how he chose to do it.
Heck, even some of our songs sung in church lack the depth of truth. We sing songs about running barefoot or hearing the crashing waves. Granted these things are wonderful experiences, and I believe God can be in the midst of them. Yet, the songs of the Cross or the blood seem to be missing or just “sprinkled” here and there. As a matter of fact, I try to sing old hymns to my children when rocking them to sleep. Well, the other night after I had finished “Amazing Grace” I thought for a second about what to sing next to Jacob and began singing “There is a Fountain.” For some, this song is considered gruesome, but for me it is wonderful. The blood of Jesus can cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I want my daughter & son to know this.
If I want my children to know this, then I want the world to know this. Jesus changes us.
Why do we not want to offend others with this “gruesome” truth? Jesus offends. I was thinking about the cross and remembered back to the movie, “The Passion of Christ.” This movie offended. It offended because it was bloody. It offended because it was truth. It offended because it demanded a response. Well, sacrifices are all of these things. Without the shedding of blood, there is no sacrifice for our sins. I remember when I was “plunged” into that fountain. I was changed. Just as a cucumber is soaked in vinegar changes and becomes a pickle. It will never be a cucumber again. It is forever changed. I am thankful that the blood of Jesus so permeates me that I will be forever changed. This is my prayer for my children. This is my prayer for others I see and work with everyday. I want to be “IMMERSED.”
For those of you who have never heard the song mentioned above, here are the words to Chris Tomlin’s song, “Mighty is the Power of the Cross”
Verse:
What can take a dying man
And raise him up to life again?
What can heal the wounded soul?
What can make us white as snow?
What can fill the emptiness?
What can mend our brokenness? Brokenness?
Chorus:
Mighty, awesome, wonderful
Is the Holy cross.
Where the Lamb lay down His life
To lift us from the fall.
Mighty is the power of the cross.
Verse 2:
What restores our faith in God?
What reveals the Father's love?
What can lead the wayward home?
What can melt a heart of stone?
What can free the guilty ones?
What can save and overcome? Overcome?
*Repeat Chorus*
Bridge:
It's a miracle to me
It's a miracle to me
It's still a mystery
And it's still a mystery
It's a miracle to me
The power of God
Those who believe
Chorus:
Mighty, awesome, wonderful
Is the Holy cross.
Where the Lamb lay down His life
To lift us from the fall.
Oh and mighty, awesome, wonderful
Is the Holy cross.
Where the Lamb lay down His life
To lift us from the fall.
Mighty is the power of...
Mighty is the power of...
Mighty is the power of the cross.
Ending:
Thank You for the cross.
Thank You for the cross.
I love the cross.
I love the cross.
It's a powerful cross.
What can take a dying man (thank You Jesus)
And raise him up to life again? (thank You Jesus)
Worship You Jesus (wonderful cross)
By Your wounds we are healed
By Your wounds we are saved
