This beautiful hymn written in Scotland in the 19th century points us to the treasure which believers have in the cross of Jesus. While the cross is usually associated with torture and death, these were just the means to secure the benefits that Jesus offers to anyone who will trust in His suffering on their behalf. He endured the “burning of the noontide heat” and the shame of our sinful selves upon himself – the worthy suffering in the place of those who had become worthless. The cross represents the place where believers draw near to Jesus in that moment where he most clearly demonstrated his gracious, unending love. It is a place where the wonder of grace overcomes our sense of unworthiness as we realize that he died for us without any regard to whether we deserved it or not. And so the believer abides in the shadow of the cross to be reminded of true joy, contentment, glory, acceptance, and love. May we never stray far from our place “beneath the cross.”
