Jesus I My Cross have Taken

Jesus I my cross have taken

Jesus I My Cross have Taken is a hymn text by Henry Francis Lyte (1833) in 7.7.7.7 meter. Found in CW21 694, CW93 465, ELH 424, elw 424.

This hymn expresses authentic Lutheran understanding of the Christian life as one involving genuine cross-bearing and discipleship, grounded in justification by faith but necessarily expressing itself in sanctification and obedience. The text balances radical renunciation of worldly values with confident trust in Christ's sufficiency and heavenly reward, reflecting Luther's theology of the Christian's dual identity and calling.

History & Background

Written by Henry Francis Lyte in 1833, this hymn first appeared in Lyte's Poems, Chiefly Devotional (1833) and became widely used in English-speaking Protestant churches. The text reflects Victorian evangelical piety combined with traditional Christian asceticism regarding worldly renunciation.

Hymnal Appearances

Christian Worship: Hymnal — 694
Christian Worship — 465
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 424
Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 424
Lutheran Book of Worship — 457
Lutheran Service Book — 571
Lift Up Your Hearts — 864
Lutheran Worship — 361
Trinity Hymnal — 707
The Lutheran Hymnal — 423

Bulletin Note

Written by Henry Francis Lyte in 1833, this hymn captures authentic Lutheran paradox: genuine cross-bearing grounded in justification by faith, expressing itself necessarily in obedience and sanctified living.

Preaching Connection

This hymn powerfully embodies the Law's stripping away of worldly illusions and the Gospel's promise of infinite gain in Christ alone, making it ideal for sermons on radical discipleship or the sufficiency of Christ.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

Of Justification Augsburg Confession

Background Research

AI-assisted draft This background note was researched with AI from published hymnal sources and has not yet been checked line by line. Please verify details such as dates before relying on them.

TLH 423. Henry Francis Lyte. First printed in Sacred Poetry (3rd edition, Edinburgh, 1824), signed "G" (Canterbury Dictionary), which matches the index. James Montgomery put it in The Christian Psalmist (Glasgow, 1825) under "Scripture Subjects", tied to Mark 10:28 ("Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee"). It circulated anonymously before appearing under Lyte's name in his Poems Chiefly Religious (1833, per the index). The usual tune is ELLESDIE (attributed to Mozart, arranged by Hubert Main; from memory). Lyte also wrote "Abide with me" and "Praise, my soul, the King of heaven"; Brixham, Devon, was his parish (index).

AI-assisted draft These study notes were drafted with AI from the hymn text and have not yet been reviewed line by line. Treat them as a starting point and check them against the sources.

Overview

Henry Francis Lyte's great discipleship hymn (by the author of 'Abide with Me'). I have taken my cross; though destitute and forsaken, 'God and heaven are still my own' (st. 1); the world despised my Savior too; show your face and all is bright (st. 2); 'With Thy favor, loss is gain'; I have called Thee Abba (st. 3); trouble drives me to your breast (st. 4); 'Take, my soul, thy full salvation' — think what Spirit, Father, Savior are yours (st. 5); haste from grace to glory — 'Faith to sight, and prayer to praise' (st. 6).

Central theme: Taking up the cross for Christ, rich in losing everything because God himself is one's portion

Structure

Six eight-line stanzas (8.7.8.7 D). The cross (1) — the world's desertion (2) — loss as gain (3) — trials as driving to Christ (4) — full salvation (5) — grace to glory (6).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law/cross: destitution, desertion, scorn, pain, trials (1-4). Gospel: 'God and heaven are still my own'; 'Abba, Father'; 'What a Savior died to win thee' (1, 3, 5).

Confessional Connections

Luke 18:28 (TLH's text): 'See, we have left our homes and followed you.' The hymn is a lyrical theology of the cross: loss becomes gain 'with Thy favor' (Phil 3:7-8); the cross drives us 'to Thy breast' (st. 4; Ap XII.151ff on afflictions as discipline, not satisfaction). St. 3: 'I have called Thee Abba, Father' — adoption by the Spirit (Rom 8:15). St. 5's Trinitarian appeal — 'what Spirit dwells within thee, / What a Father's smile is thine, / What a Savior died to win thee' — is the Gospel motive for bearing the cross. St. 6: 'Faith to sight, and prayer to praise' (1 Cor 13:12).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Trinity season; confirmation; discipleship; Lent.

Historical Notes

Lyte (1793-1847), vicar of Lower Brixham, Devon; published 1824 (signed 'G') and 1833.

About the Tune

HYFRYDOL (Rowland H. Prichard, 1855, alt.).

Scripture References

Luke 18:28-30 Mark 8:34 Phil 3:7-8 Ps 16:5 John 15:18 Num 6:25-26 Rom 8:15 Rom 8:28 2 Cor 4:17 1 Cor 6:19 Rom 8:32 2 Cor 3:18 1 Cor 13:12

Stanza by Stanza

1 Jesus, I my cross have taken,…

Jesus, I have taken up my cross to leave everything and follow you; destitute, despised, forsaken, from now on you will be my all. Let every fond ambition die, everything I have sought, hoped for or known; yet how rich my condition is! God and heaven are still mine.

'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross' (Mark 8:34). 'We have left everything' (Luke 18:28). 'The LORD is my chosen portion' (Ps 16:5).

Scripture: Mark 8:34, Luke 18:28-30, Ps 16:5
Imagery & language: Cross taken; destitute; my All; rich.
Law / Gospel: Law — loss; Gospel — God my portion.
Connection to previous: Cross taken.

discipleship theology of the cross cross-bearing

2 Let the world despise and leave me,…

Let the world despise and leave me; they left my Savior too. Human hearts and looks deceive me; you are not untrue like them. And while you smile on me, God of wisdom, love and might, enemies may hate and friends may avoid me; show your face, and all is bright.

'If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you' (John 15:18). 'The LORD make his face shine upon you' (Num 6:25).

Scripture: John 15:18, Num 6:25-26, Ps 27:10
Imagery & language: World despises; deceitful hearts; Thy smile; Thy face.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — God's favor.
Connection to previous: Thy face.

persecution faithfulness of God

3 Go, then, earthly fame and treasure!…

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn and pain! In your service pain is pleasure; with your favor loss is gain. I have called you Abba, Father! I have rested my heart on you. Storms may howl and clouds gather; everything must work for my good.

'Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ' (Phil 3:7). 'By whom we cry, Abba! Father!' (Rom 8:15). 'All things work together for good' (Rom 8:28).

Scripture: Phil 3:7-8, Rom 8:15, Rom 8:28
Imagery & language: Fame and treasure gone; pain as pleasure; Abba, Father; all for good.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — adoption.
Connection to previous: Loss is gain.

adoption theology of the cross providence

4 Man may trouble and distress me,…

People may trouble and distress me; it will only drive me to your breast. Life may press me hard with trials; heaven will bring me sweeter rest. Grief cannot harm me while your love is left to me; joy could not charm me if it were not mixed with you.

'This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory' (2 Cor 4:17). Afflictions as fatherly discipline (Ap XII).

Scripture: 2 Cor 4:17, Heb 12:6, Ps 73:25-26
Imagery & language: Trouble drives to Thy breast; grief harmless; joy only with Thee.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — love in affliction.
Connection to previous: Driven to Thee.

affliction comfort love of God

5 Take, my soul, thy full salvation;…

My soul, take your full salvation; rise above sin, fear and care; find joy in every station, something still to do or bear. Think what Spirit lives in you, what a Father's smile is yours, what a Savior died to win you; child of heaven, should you complain?

'Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you' (1 Cor 6:19). 'He who did not spare his own Son… how will he not… give us all things?' (Rom 8:32).

Scripture: 1 Cor 6:19, Rom 8:32, 1 Cor 7:17
Imagery & language: Full salvation; every station; Spirit, Father, Savior.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — Trinitarian comfort.
Connection to previous: Full salvation.

Trinity vocation assurance

6 Haste, then, on from grace to glory,…

Hurry on, then, from grace to glory, armed with faith and given wings by prayer; heaven's eternal day is ahead of you; God's own hand will guide you there. Your earthly mission will soon close, your pilgrim days pass swiftly; hope will soon become joyful fulfilment, faith sight, and prayer praise.

'From one degree of glory to another' (2 Cor 3:18). 'Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face' (1 Cor 13:12).

Scripture: 2 Cor 3:18, 1 Cor 13:12, Heb 11:13
Imagery & language: Grace to glory; faith to sight; prayer to praise.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — glory ahead.
Connection to previous: Grace to glory.

heaven hope pilgrimage

Themes

Discipleship Self-denial Cross and suffering Following Christ Renunciation of the world

Look Further

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