Beneath the cross of Jesus I long to take my stand;
the shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land,
a home within a wilderness, a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and burdens of the day.
(“Beneath the Cross of Jesus,” verse 1)
Scripture Connection: Mark 1:12-13
After his baptism, the Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts;
and the angels waited on him.
Art Card Prompt:
The Gospel for the first Sunday of Lent tells of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert wilderness, during which he experiences hunger and isolation as he faces temptations from Satan. The first verse of “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” draws on similar imagery of a dry, hot wilderness. In the hymn, the shadow of the cross is a protective shelter and
restful respite.
This is the irony of the cross: although it is a source of pain for Jesus, it is a source of salvation for us. The salvation we have through Christ’s work on the cross
brings us comfort and peace.
As you create your art card this week, reflect on wilderness times you have been through in your life. What does the wilderness look like? How might the cross of Christ bring relief during such times? How is the cross
a protective rock? How is its shadow a shelter?
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