Yesterday I learned a new to me worship song. There were parts of it that were great but the end really grated. It was the Noel and Tricia Richards song 'Filled with Compassion' the last verse of which says...
From every nation we shall be gathered,
Millions redeemed shall be Jesus' reward.
Then He will turn and say to His Father:
"Truly my suffering was worth it all!"
Is it me, probably it is, but I don't recall anything about 'reward' in the reasons for the cross, there was no 'if I do this then my Father will reward me.' As I came to this verse - of a hymn/song that has some great ideas expressed - I was dismayed, it contradicted, or so it felt, everything I understand about the cross, about Christ's kenosis, about atonement, about Christ's character. Maybe it is me, but I really cannot envisage Jesus looking around heaven/eternity/new creation and saying 'yup, actually you know what all that pain, isolation and death was worth while because this is the outcome.' Surely part of God's risk was that even despite all this we would choose the way that deals death rather than the way that deals life. To me this last line feels too human, too mercenary almost - how many souls saved is enough to make it worthwhile? My understanding has always been that one would have been enough justification. I don't want to knock someone's heartfelt response to God, but when I got to the end of this hymn I was left thinking 'not quite...'