“Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross”

1. Read: John 19:25-27

2. About the Text:

1) Who do we find near the cross when Jesus was crucified?

2) It was those who were closest to Jesus.

3) Do we want to be close to Jesus? If so, then we want to be near the cross also.

3. About the song.

1) “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross” was written by Fanny J. Crosby in 1869.

2) The music was written by William H. Doane the same year.

3) Let’s use this song as a springboard to think about Jesus and our relationship to him.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “Jesus keep me near the cross: There a precious fountain, Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.”

1) The precious fountain that comes from the cross is Jesus and His blood.

2) The healing stream is the forgiveness that we receive from his blood.

2. Jesus is the fountain.

1) In Jeremiah 17:13, the Lord is the fountain of living waters.

2) In John 4:14 Jesus said, “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

3. His blood is the foundation – Zechariah 13:1 – “In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.”

4. The blood of Christ heals us from our sins.

1) Initial cleansing – Ephesians 1:7 – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

2) Continual cleansing – 1 John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

1. “Near the cross a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me; There the Bright and Morning star Sheds its beams around me.”

1) Love and mercy was the gift of Jesus from heaven.

2) The Bright and Morning Star is Jesus and the light of truth that He reveals.

3) This light and truth comes from heaven and guides my life.

2. Love and mercy found me because heaven was looking for me.

1) John 3:16 – God so loved the world.

2) God does not desire anyone to be lost – 1 Timothy 2:4 – “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

3) “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

4) John 12:32 – “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

3. Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star who brings truth – 2 Peter 1:19 – “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

4. Truth will guide our lives to heaven – Colossians 1:15 – “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.”

1. “Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day With its shadow o’er me.”

1) We want to bring the scenes of the cross before our mind’s eye.

2) This helps us to remember the love, sacrifice, and humility of Jesus to walk with Him.

2. We remember the cross in the Lord’s supper – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

3. The cross was where Jesus demonstrated his love and humility.

1) Romans 5:8-9 – “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

2) Philippians 2:5-8.

4. Luke 9:23 – “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

1. We should desire to stay near the cross because there we find . . .

1) Healing

2) Heaven

3) Help

2. Invitation