This hymn contains so much. Potential for musical creativity, yes, but also such rich theology. Consider the text:
THERE IS A FOUNTAIN There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away. Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away. Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood shall never lose its power till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more. Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more; till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more. E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream thy flowing wounds supply, redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die. And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die; redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die. Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing thy power to save, when this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave. Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave; when this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave. [Cowper/Mason] 1731-1800
There’s really not much to say on what’s already been said so well by the writer. Interesting the word choicing from the writer: “the sinner plunged“. Not “dipped”, not “immersed”, but “plunged”. The new Webster’s describes this as “to jump enthusiastically and energetically”. I wonder, do I willingly plunge myself beneath the blood of Christ?
It’s interesting that in Mark’s account of the pre-and-post-crucifixion events, we find Pilate “amazed” twice. He is amazed at Jesus’ lack of response to persecution (15:5), and he is later amazed that Christ has also died suddenly, rather than undergoing a long, prolonged death (15:44). Pilate, as the old hymn says “stands amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene”, but, so far as we know, does not see the cleansing power of the beautiful flow of blood that, by the Sovereign hand of God, he himself helped to ensure its coming from Christ’s side.
To stand at the foot of the Cross and be amazed does not cleanse the sinner from his sins, but, rather, the wiling, enthusiastic plunging beneath the blood flow of Christ will cause the sinner “to be saved to sin no more” (Hebrews 9). May I only stand amazed, but remember that I am a sinner, condemned, unclean, unrighteous, and in deep need of the all-surpassing cleansing power of the beautiful blood flow of our now risen Savior.
