March 22: Crucified with Christ
♫ Music:
Day 38 - Friday, March 22
Title: CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
Scripture #1: Galatians 6:14-15 (NKJV)
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Scripture #2: Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Poetry & Poet:
“The Cross”
by Allen Tate
There is a place that some men know,
I cannot see the whole of it,
Nor how men come there. Long ago
Flame burst out of a secret pit
Crushing the world with such a light
The day sky fell to moonless black,
The kingly sun to hateful night
For those, once seeing, turning back:
For love so hates mortality,
Which is the providence of life,
She will not let it blessed be
But curses it with mortal strife.
Until beside the blinding rood
Within that world-destroying pit
--Like young wolves that have tasted blood
Of death, men taste no more of it:
So blind in so severe a place
(All life before in the black grave)
The last alternatives they face
Of life, without the life to save,
Being from all salvation weaned--
A stag charged both at heel and head:
Who would come back is turned a fiend
Instructed by the fiery dead.
CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
When I first saw this painting, A Christian Soul Accepts the Cross, I found myself looking at the woman––the representation of the human soul––and imagined myself there, bent close to the ground, carrying a cross. There is a practice called Visio Divina in which the process of looking at a piece of art can illuminate a truth or what God is speaking to the viewer. What is my cross I asked myself? When I think of “carrying my cross,” I first think of struggle––the things that I wish were different, or that seem hard in life, or the ways in which I feel inadequate. When I imagined myself as the woman looking at Jesus, his head turned, eyes kind, waiting, I felt like Jesus was saying, “You can do it. I’m here. We will carry these crosses together.”
However, as I reflected on the painting longer, and considered my own tendency to work hard and take on responsibility, I felt like God’s word to me broadened. I have taken the Strengths Finder assessment and discovered that Responsibility is one of my top five strengths. As a result, I work hard and have an inner drive to achieve high standards. The flip side of this is that sometimes I take on responsibilities that are not mine to take on. I felt like Jesus was saying, “I took the responsibility.”
One thing that has captivated my attention since I moved to my neighborhood in Santa Ana are the crosses inscribed, hand carved into the trunks of the trees that line my block. The crepe myrtle tree that stands outside my apartment has a cross etched onto the surface of its trunk. The papery bark is shedding, but the outline of the cross is still there. As I walk around my neighborhood and see the crosses on the trees, it feels comforting: visual signposts assuring me of God’s presence. Trees, regardless of whether they have a cross etched into their bark or not, bear witness to Christ through the death they inhabit each winter and the new life that bursts forth each spring. Likewise, God’s spirit in each of us bears witness to God’s love for us.
What is my cross? My cross is Christ’s cross, and He already bore the responsibility. The cross I am invited to accept is the invitation to new life––“I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20 NLT).” He died and was raised, so too will we. Love is so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Prayer:
Jesus, as I consider the cross this Lenten Season, the cross where you died, may I understand more deeply your sacrifice, and receive more abundantly your love.
Keep me, Lord, from boasting in anything except You.
All the things that draw my attention, I submit to you.
As I take in the beauty of the trees and nature all around me, your love is even greater.
Jesus, I trust you.
Your love is amazing.
I give you my life, my all.
–––––paraphrase of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
Kari Dunham
Adjunct Professor of Art
Biola University
For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab.
About the Art:
The Christian Soul Accepts the Cross
Unknown French painter
c. 1630
Oil on canvas
72.7 x 58.7 cm.
Prado Museum
Madrid, Spain
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me’” (Matthew 16:24). No better illustration of this Scripture can be found than in this image by an unknown French artist. Totally surrounded by crosses, Christ accepts his God-given destiny as he carries his cross. He is followed by a young woman in the same pose wearing a wreath of flowers and carrying a similar cross. She is identified as the Christian Soul. Carrying our crosses to follow Christ means fully submitting to and putting our trust in God amid the storms and troubles of life.
https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-christian-soul-accepts-the-cross/7e85486d-ad0c-415f-882e-0b91a964a86a
About the Music #1:
“I am Crucified with Christ” from the album In the Quiet
Lyrics #1:
I am crucified with Christ,
Therefore I no longer live;
Jesus Christ now lives in me.
I am crucified with Christ,
Therefore I no longer live;
Jesus Christ now lives in me.
The life I now live in this body,
I live by faith in Him.
I am crucified with the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave himself for me.
I am crucified with Christ,
Therefore I no longer live;
Jesus Christ now lives in me.
I am crucified with Christ,
Therefore I no longer live;
Jesus Christ now lives in me.
The life I now live in this body,
I live by faith in Him.
I am crucified with the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave himself for me.
I am crucified with Christ,
Therefore I no longer live;
Jesus Christ now lives in me.
I am crucified with Christ,
Therefore I no longer live;
Jesus Christ now lives in me. (2x)
About the Composer/Performer #1:
John G. Elliott is a man dedicated to the kingdom of God. He uses his gifts of songwriting, music composition, worship leading, and teaching for that purpose. John has been the recipient of a Dove Award and has been nominated for eight other Dove Awards as producer, arranger, and songwriter. His songs appear in hymnals and have been recorded by such artists as Ricky Skaggs, Steve Green, Sandi Patti, Pat Boone, First Call, and many others. He has co-written songs with Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Paul Overstreet, and Gloria Gaither. He participated in a recording with Max Lucado for his song “God Came Near.” He is best known for the songs “Somebody’s Prayin” (Ricky Skaggs), “Embrace the Cross,” and “I am Crucified with Christ” (Steve Green). John’s songs and arrangements have been performed by orchestras nationwide, including the Boston Pops Orchestra. John has fourteen CDs of vocal and instrumental music.
https://revelationproject.net/biography
About the Music #2:
“When I Survey” from the album Even Now
Lyrics #2:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died.
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast.
Save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever.
‘Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Jesus, keep me near the cross.
About the Lyricists #2:
Isaac Watts and Fannie Crosby
In today’s version of the hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” the first three stanzas are from the original song written by Isaac Watts and the last stanza has been replaced by a stanza written by Fannie Crosby.
English hymn writer Isaac Watts (1674–1748), known as “The Father of Hymns,” wrote over seven hundred fifty hymns of praise to God during his life. Many of these remain in use today and have been translated into numerous languages. Watts based many of his hymns on psalms since in the early Church of England only hymns from the Psalter were allowed. He wrote “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”
https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/poets/isaac-watts.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Watts
About the Composers #2:
Malcolm Archer and Philip Wilby
Malcolm Archer (b. 1952) is an English composer, conductor, and organist. He was formerly organist and director of music at Bristol Cathedral, Wells Cathedral, and St Paul's Cathedral. Archer was educated at the Royal College of Music. He took over as organist and director of music at St Paul's Cathedral in 2004. He directed the choir for several important state services, including the service to celebrate the eightieth birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, for which he composed a special anthem. From 2007 to 2018 he took up a position as director of chapel music and organist at Winchester College, where he oversaw the Winchester College Chapel Choir and the College Quiristers, as well as teaching composition and the organ. Archer has had over two hundred fifty compositions published. His major works include “Requiem,” “Vespers,” “Three Psalms of David,” “The Coming of the Kingdom,” “‘Sinfonietta,” “Concerto for Trumpet and Strings,” and “Sonata for Cello and Piano.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Archer
Philip Wilby (b. 1949) is a British composer, organist, and choir director. Educated at Keble College, Oxford, he joined the staff at the University of Leeds as a lecturer in the department of music in 1972. There he taught various composition, liturgy, directing, and score-reading classes, and co-founded the Leeds University Liturgical Choir. Composing for many different instruments and ensembles, Wilby is most known for his compositions for brass bands. Many of Wilby's pieces are based on his strong Christian beliefs. In 2013 he was commissioned by the Halifax Choral Society to compose an oratorio in the English tradition for the Society's bicentenary in 2017. The work The Holy Face is based on the life of John the Baptist, patron saint of Halifax, and was presented for the first time in Halifax in October 2017..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Wilby
About the Lyricist/Performer #2:
Singer-songwriter Matthew Ward (b. 1958) is one of the pioneers of contemporary Christian music. He is best known as a part of the trio 2nd Chapter of Acts, in which he sang and performed with his sisters, Annie Herring and Nellie (Ward) Greisen. During his musical career with the 2nd Chapter of Acts from 1973 to 1988, he also recorded solo albums, and he continues to perform his solo work to this day. In 1988, after sixteen years of touring and over one thousand concerts, 2nd Chapter of Acts prayerfully retired as a group. Matthew then launched his solo career in earnest. Throughout his career, Ward has received a number of honors. He has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame of the Gospel Music Association. He was honored with a Dove Award. Matthew has also had the privilege of helping lead five hundred thousand men in worship as part of the 1996 Promise Keepers praise team. He also sang the title song for the 1996 Billy Graham Christmas TV special Season for Peace. These days, Matthew still continues to share in music both nationally and internationally.
https://www.matthewward.com/
About the Poetry and Poet:
John Orley Allen Tate (1899–1979), known professionally as Allen Tate, was an American poet, essayist, social commentator, and poet laureate from 1943 to 1944. Born and raised in Kentucky, he earned his B.A. from Vanderbilt University, where he was the only undergraduate to be admitted to the Fugitives, an informal group of Southern intellectuals and writers who critiqued modern industrial life by invoking romanticized versions of Southern history and culture.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/allen-tate
About the Devotion Writer:
Kari Dunham
Adjunct Professor of Art
Biola University
Kari Dunham is an adjunct art professor at Biola University, Concordia University in Irvine, and Irvine Valley College. Dunham earned her M.F.A. in painting from Laguna College of Art + Design. Through her practice of painting ordinary inanimate objects, she gives voice to the quiet corners and objects of the home, describing the “thingness” that is these objects and how they embody human presence and absence. Kari has also written for SEEN, the semiannual publication of CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts).