Song number 383 in our song book is “Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross.” Here is the first verse: “Jesus, keep me near the cross: There’s a precious fountain, Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calvary’s mountain.” The cross has come down through the centuries as a visible symbol of Christianity. The cross as a representation of Christianity draws its meaning not from the wooden beams, but from the One who sacrificed Himself upon it.
Jesus, the Messiah of God, died for our sins. In His death on the cross believers can find forgiveness. The Apostle Peter says this about Jesus in 1 Peter 2:23-24, “23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.” The “tree” or cross carries with it the imagery of all of Jesus’ pain, suffering, and death. In the cross, Jesus blesses believers with all of the hope, mercy and love that come from His sacrifice. Jesus, keep me near the cross.
All who believe in Jesus and are baptized into Christ receive the blessings of the cross and are saved (Mark 16:16). The second verse of number 383 is: “Near the cross a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me; There the Bright and Morning Star Sheds its beams a round me.” Ephesians 2:4-5 tells us “4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” In the cross, the love that God loved us with is Jesus Christ. Romans 5:8-10 speaks about God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice that makes our salvation possible, “8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Jesus, keep me near the cross.
Sinners, now saved by the precious cross of Christ, are to take up their cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). The third verse of number 383 is: “Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day With its shadow over me.” Living day to day reflecting upon the cross of Christ and all of its meaning can help us to live like Jesus. In the cross, we think about His love and mercy. In the cross, we remember His kindness and patience to sinners like you and me. In the cross, we remember His sacrifice and the salvation offered us even though we don’t deserve it. In remembering the cross of Christ, we carry its sense with us as we interact with others allowing Jesus’ example to be our example. Jesus, keep me near the cross.
The refrain of number 383 is one that every Christian is to recall until we are called home to be with the Lord or He returns in all His glory: “In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river.” In Galatians 6:14 the Apostle Paul says it this way, “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.” This is how we are to understand every Christian is to live their life. We do not live for ourselves or our glory, but for the glory of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus, keep me near the cross.
