Long Have I Pondered

[Verse 1]
Long have I pondered the pain of the cross
Wood soaked in blood, washed with tears, drenched in sweat
Whips, cruel nails, crown of thorns, countless cost
Somehow this death is both promise and threat
Cascades of suffering and love shrink my pride
Silent I’m hushed by his spear-riven side

[Verse 2]
Long have I pondered the shame of the cross
Jeered by the troops, by authorities scorned
Mocked by a brigand, society’s dross
Christ is abandoned, rejected, ignored
How can I focus on triumphs and things?
Here writhes my Maker, Redeemer and King

[Verse 3]
Long have I pondered the curse of the cross
Sinless, the Christ bears my guilt and my pain
Thundering silence, a measureless cost
God in His heaven lets Christ cry in vain
Now I can glimpse sin's bleak horror, and worse
Christ dies and bears the unbearable curse

[Verse 4]
Long have I pondered the Christ of the cross
Gone is the boasting when I’m next to Him
Loving the rebel, redeeming the lost
Jesus’ pure goodness exposes my sin
Self is cut down by this triumph of grace
Christ’s bloody cross is the hope of our race