I'm not on an ego trip, I'm nothing on my own.
I've made mistakes, and I often slip.
I'm just common flesh and bone.
But I'll prove someday just what I say, I'm of a special kind.
For while he was on the cross, I was on his mind.
The look of love was on his face, and throns on his head.
Blood was on that scarlet robe, and it was staind in crimson red.
Though his eyes were on the crowd that day, he looked ahead in time.
For while he was on the cross, you were on his mind.
He knew me.
Yet he love me.
He who's glory makes the heaven's shine.
I'm so unworthy, of such mercy.
For while he was on the cross, I was on his mind.
Yes while he was on the cross, you were on his mind.
He knew me.
Yet he love me.
He who's glory makes the heaven's shine.
I'm so unworthy, of such mercy.
For while he was on the cross, I was on his mind.
Yes while he was on the cross, I was on his mind.
When He Was On The Cross (I Was On His Mind)
When He Was On The Cross (I Was On His Mind) Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Released on August 17, 2012, Jason Crabb’s song "When He Was On The Cross (I Was On His Mind)" presents a deeply personal and moving contemplation of Christ’s sacrifice. The song’s central theme isn't a historical recounting of the crucifixion itself, but rather an exploration of the profound theological truth that Jesus’ atoning work was not a general, impersonal act, but one specific to each individual who would believe. It posits that even in His agony on the cross, Jesus’ divine consciousness was fixed not just on the grand plan of salvation, but intimately, personally, on the singer – and by extension, on each person acknowledging this truth. This perspective transforms the cross from a distant historical event into an immediate, personal expression of love and foreknowledge.
The message of the song draws heavily from foundational Christian beliefs about God's perfect knowledge and unconditional love. It echoes the sentiment found in passages like Jeremiah 1:5, where God tells the prophet, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you," or Psalm 139, which speaks of God knowing our thoughts afar off and being intimately acquainted with all our ways. Extending this divine knowledge to the moment of crucifixion suggests that Christ, being fully God, bore the weight of the sins of the *world*, yes, but He did so with a full understanding of every single face, every single name, every single heart that would ever turn to Him for salvation. This isn't just about a future hope; it's about being eternally known and loved, even in the moment of ultimate sacrifice.
Analyzing the song’s impact requires understanding the weight of this idea. The cross was an event of immense suffering and cosmic significance, the moment where "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). For the song to suggest that amidst such profound agony, Jesus was simultaneously holding *me* in His thoughts is a powerful affirmation of individual worth in God's eyes and the depth of His personal love. It connects directly to Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The song takes this a step further, personalizing the ‘us’ to ‘me,’ implying a specific, intentional focus on each person within that larger group. This perspective can be incredibly humbling and reassuring, reminding us that our salvation wasn't an afterthought, but a foreseen and desired outcome of His suffering.
The emotional resonance of "When He Was On The Cross (I Was On His Mind)" lies in this personal connection to the monumental act of redemption. It encourages introspection, prompting reflection on the personal cost of salvation and the depth of God's grace. The imagery, while not explicitly detailed in the lyrics beyond the core concept, conjures a vision of Christ's suffering being intertwined with a divine foresight that saw past the pain to the redeemed individual. This aligns with Hebrews 12:2, which says that Jesus "for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame." The "joy set before him" can certainly be interpreted as the salvation and relationship with those He was dying for – including the singer, and everyone who finds solace in this truth. The song serves as a musical reminder that the cross was not just a historical event, but the ultimate declaration of God's personal, unfathomable love for you and for me, a love that knew us, thought of us, and died for us before we even existed.
