Gaither Vocal Band - At the Cross Lyrics
Lyrics
Alas and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
At the cross, at the cross
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart
Rolled away, rolled away
It was there by faith I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day
Was it for crimes that I have done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown
And love beyond degree
At the cross, at the cross
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart
Rolled away, rolled away
It was there by faith
I received my sight
And now and now and now
I am happy all the day, all the day
Video
Gaither Vocal Band - At the Cross [Live] ft. Gaither Vocal Band
Meaning & Inspiration
The Gaither Vocal Band's rendition of "At the Cross," found on their 2000 compilation album *The Best of the Gaither Vocal Band*, is a profound meditation on the central event of Christian faith: the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This beloved hymn, with its simple yet potent lyrics, directly confronts the immensity of Christ's sacrifice and its transformative impact on the believer. The song opens with a series of deeply personal questions, "Alas and did my Savior bleed, And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head, For such a worm as I?" These queries echo the bewilderment and awe described in Scripture when contemplating God’s immense love demonstrated through Christ's suffering. The lyrics beautifully capture the essence of 1 John 4:10, which states, "This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." The "worm" is a humble self-description, acknowledging human sinfulness in contrast to divine perfection, a sentiment echoed in Psalm 22:6, "But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people." The chorus, "At the cross, at the cross, Where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away," serves as the anchor of the song, describing the moment of spiritual awakening and liberation. This "seeing the light" is akin to the experience Paul describes in Acts 26:18, where Christ commissions him to "open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God." The "burden rolled away" powerfully illustrates the relief from guilt and condemnation that comes through Christ's finished work, as Romans 8:1 assures believers, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." The continuation, "It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day," highlights the instrumental role of faith in this salvation, aligning with Hebrews 11:1’s definition of faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." This newfound sight and joy are the fruits of a reconciled relationship with God, as spoken of in Psalm 30:5, "Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes with the morning." The second verse continues this exploration, asking, "Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity, grace unknown, And love beyond degree." This directly addresses the substitutionary atonement, where Christ took the punishment for our sins, a concept thoroughly explained in Isaiah 53:5, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." The "amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree" are expressions of the unfathomable nature of God’s mercy, as God’s grace is described as "rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us" in Ephesians 2:4. The repeated refrain reinforces the significance of the cross as the singular point of spiritual redemption and lasting happiness, a testament to the enduring power of this foundational Christian truth.