At the Cross

Songbook Hymn Sermons

At the Cross
A Sermon based on the Hymn “At the Cross (Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed)” by Isaac Watts

Introduction
“At the Cross,” originally penned by Isaac Watts as “Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed,” invites every soul to look honestly at the price Jesus paid for our sins. The hymn stirs deep reflection on the sacrifice of Christ and compels us to respond—not with mere sentiment, but with obedience. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That love calls us not just to weep, but to act. And Scripture reveals the very place we come into contact with that sacrifice is in baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Let us examine each stanza and reflect on both the meaning of Christ’s death and the way we must respond.

Stanza 1: "Alas! and did my Savior bleed, And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?"
The opening line expresses sorrow and astonishment. The sinless Sovereign—Jesus Christ—bled and died for me. Isaiah 53:5 reminds us He was “wounded for our transgressions.” The phrase “such a worm as I” acknowledges our unworthiness. The proper response to such love is not just emotional—it's obedient. When the crowd in Acts 2 realized they had crucified the Son of God, they were “cut to the heart” and cried out, “What shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). That’s how we answer the question in this stanza—by yielding to the Savior in baptism.

Stanza 2: "Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—And bathed in its own blood—While all exposed to wrath divine, The glorious sufferer stood!"
This verse presents Jesus as the Lamb of God, offered up for sin. Hebrews 9:22 teaches, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” At the cross, Jesus bore the wrath we deserved. And it is in baptism—our burial into His death (Romans 6:3)—that we are covered by that blood. We are not cleansed by water alone, but by God's working through our faithful submission to His command. Colossians 2:12 says we are “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God.”

Stanza 3: "Was it for crimes that I have done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!"
This is personal. It was my sin that nailed Jesus to the cross. And yet He groaned and suffered so I could be set free. His pity, grace, and love demand a response. James 2:19 reminds us that belief alone is not enough—“even the demons believe.” True saving faith obeys. When Saul encountered Jesus and was blinded by conviction, he asked, “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). The answer? “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). If we are to benefit from His amazing grace, we must obey the call to baptism.

Stanza 4: "Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut His glories in, When Christ, the mighty Maker, died For man the creature’s sin."
The earth itself trembled at the death of Jesus—the sun darkened (Matthew 27:45) as creation mourned its Creator. Colossians 1:16 reminds us that “by Him all things were created.” That the Creator would die for the creature is unfathomable. And yet, He did—so that we might live. But living in Him begins at the cross—our cross—when we are baptized into His death and raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). To bypass baptism is to ignore the very act by which we enter into His death and resurrection.

Stanza 5: "Thus might I hide my blushing face While His dear cross appears; Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt mine eyes to tears."
Yes, we should blush at our sin. But the cross should also break our pride and lead us to surrender. Tears alone cannot save. Gratitude alone cannot remove guilt. Peter’s listeners at Pentecost wept, but they were not saved until they repented and were baptized. Likewise, when we stand convicted by the cross, our hearts must be moved to act—not by works of merit, but by obedience born of faith. Baptism is that obedient response of a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21).

Chorus: "At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away..."
This is where the burden of sin is lifted. Not at the moment of belief, but at the moment of obedient faith—when we are baptized into Christ. Galatians 3:27 declares, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” The light comes when our sins are washed away. The burden rolls away not by emotion, but by God's promise fulfilled in our immersion into Christ. At the cross, through baptism, we are set free.

At the Cross Sermon Outline:

Stanza 1: "Alas! and did my Savior bleed, And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?"

Theme: The Astonishing Love and Humility of Christ

• “Alas” expresses personal sorrow and amazement at Christ’s sacrifice.
• Christ is not only Savior—He is Sovereign. The One with all authority chose to die.
• “Such a worm as I” reveals our unworthiness (Romans 3:23).
• Personal conviction leads to the same question asked in Acts 2:37: “What shall we do?”
• Application: Like those at Pentecost, we must respond with repentance and baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

Key Scriptures:

• Isaiah 53:5 – He was wounded for our transgressions
• Acts 2:36–38 – Realizing our guilt leads to repentance and baptism
• Romans 5:8 – Christ died for us while we were still sinners

Stanza 2: "Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—And bathed in its own blood—While all exposed to wrath divine, The glorious sufferer stood!"

Theme: The Suffering and Substitution of Christ

• Christ endured divine wrath that we deserved (1 Peter 2:24).
• His blood was not shed accidentally—it was part of God’s plan for redemption.
• Forgiveness requires blood, and Scripture connects this blood to baptism, where we are united with His death.
• Application: We meet the benefits of Christ’s death when we are baptized into His death (Romans 6:3).

Key Scriptures:

• Hebrews 9:22 – Without shedding of blood, no remission
• Romans 6:3–4 – Baptized into Christ’s death
• Colossians 2:12 – Faith in God’s working during baptism

Stanza 3: "Was it for crimes that I have done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!"

Theme: Our Personal Guilt and His Motivating Love

• Christ groaned not for His own sins, but ours.
• “Amazing pity” and “grace unknown” emphasize His unearned mercy.
• Love led Him to the cross—our sins were the cause.
• The proper response to such love is obedient faith, culminating in baptism (Acts 22:16).
• Application: When we realize Christ died for our sins, we must arise and be baptized to wash them away.

Key Scriptures:

• Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death
• Galatians 2:20 – He loved me and gave Himself for me
• Acts 22:16 – Arise and be baptized, wash away your sins

Stanza 4: "Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut His glories in, When Christ, the mighty Maker, died For man the creature’s sin."

Theme: The Cosmic Weight of the Cross

• Nature responded to the death of its Creator—darkness covered the earth (Matthew 27:45).
• “The mighty Maker died” is the most powerful statement of divine humility.
• Man’s sin caused God’s grief—but God made the way for man’s redemption.
• Application: To honor the sacrifice of the Creator, we must enter His death through baptism—the God-ordained act of submission.

Key Scriptures:

• Matthew 27:45 – Darkness fell at Jesus’ death
• Colossians 1:16 – All things were created by Him
• Romans 6:4 – We are buried with Christ by baptism into death

Stanza 5: "Thus might I hide my blushing face While His dear cross appears; Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt mine eyes to tears."

Theme: The Emotional and Spiritual Response to the Cross

• True repentance begins with brokenness and shame for sin.
• But tears are not enough—thankfulness must lead to action.
• A broken heart must become an obedient heart (2 Corinthians 7:10).
• Application: Baptism is not a work—it is the appeal of a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21), and the only biblical way to respond to the cross in obedient faith.

Key Scriptures:

• Luke 22:62 – Peter wept bitterly after denying Christ
• Psalm 103:10–12 – God forgives fully and completely
• 1 Peter 3:21 – Baptism saves as the answer of a good conscience

Chorus: "At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away..."

Theme: The Joy of Salvation Through Baptism into the Cross

• The “burden of my heart” is sin—and it is lifted when we obey the gospel.
• At the cross is where we see light and find peace—but we must come to it on God’s terms.
• We are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27), where we receive mercy, grace, and the gift of eternal life.
• Application: The joy of the cross is not realized at the moment of belief alone, but at the moment of baptism, when God applies the blood of Christ and removes our sins.

Key Scriptures:

• Galatians 3:27 – Baptized into Christ and clothed in Him
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – In Christ we are new creatures
• Romans 8:1 – No condemnation for those in Christ

Call to Action
Have you stood at the cross and allowed your heart to be broken? More importantly—have you obeyed what the Lord commanded in response to His sacrifice? Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). The cross demands more than appreciation—it demands surrender. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, repent of your sins, confess Him as Lord, and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). That is where the burden of your heart will roll away—and where your new life in Christ begins.

Scripture Reference List:

• Romans 5:8 – God demonstrated love by Christ’s death for sinners
• Isaiah 53:5 – He was wounded for our transgressions
• Acts 2:38 – Baptism for the remission of sins
• Romans 6:3–4 – Baptized into Christ’s death, raised to new life
• Colossians 2:12 – God works in baptism to forgive
• Acts 22:16 – Baptism washes away sins
• Galatians 3:27 – Baptized into Christ, clothed in Him
• 1 Peter 3:21 – Baptism is the answer of a good conscience
• Matthew 27:45 – Darkness at Christ’s death
• Mark 16:16 – Belief and baptism are both required for salvation
• 2 Corinthians 7:10 – Godly sorrow produces repentance

Brief History of the Hymn and Author
“Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed” was written in 1707 by Isaac Watts, a prolific hymn writer and theologian. In the 1800s, the now-familiar chorus “At the Cross” was added by Ralph E. Hudson, giving the hymn its enduring invitation feel. Watts was known for writing hymns that challenged the heart and mind, and this one does both—reminding every soul of Christ’s immense sacrifice and the necessity of a faithful, obedient response. It continues to be sung in congregations of the Lord’s church as a stirring call to stand at the cross—and to obey.

Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO

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