We don’t often stop to feel the weight of how much Christ went through on the cross for us. Isaac Watts invites us to a deep, personal response to the cross in this hymn.

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

The word survey means so much more than simply looking. A surveyor measures, counts, and fully documents a plot of land. With this word, Watts calls us to not merely look on the cross but take in the awesome weight of the Prince of glory dying for our sin.

Then, having considered and measured this wondrous cross, Watts calls to mind a response from Philippians 3:7: “whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” But Watts doesn’t stop there. He pours contempt on his pride in his worldly gain. Contempt is a rejection, a distaste for something. Watts doesn’t call us to simply feel contempt for our pride, but to actively have contempt for our worldly pride and gain in an act of humble worship.

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

Continuing with the thought from the first stanza, Watts guides us to ask the Lord to keep us from boasting in anything but Christ’s accomplished work. Again, the language here is strong, putting the prayer in our mouths for God to forbid such a boast in our hearts and speech. Watts turns the thought into action again, saying that we must sacrifice the vain things that charm us and distract us from Christ.

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?

Now that we have almost taken a tangent to explore our response to the cross, Watts returns to surveying this scene. He marvels at how this instrument of Roman torture could have such glory in Christ’s sacrifice. He asks us to consider, have such love and sorrow ever come together in such a perfect way?

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul my life my all

Once again, Watts returns to our response, calling us to ask what we must do after surveying this wondrous cross. He muses that even if it were in our possession to give Christ the entirety of creation, this offering would not suffice to thank him. We cannot repay Christ’s gift to us, but we can look at this amazing love of God and realize that a proper response truly demands everything we have and are.