The cross! The cross! The blood-stained cross

“The Cross! The Cross! The Blood-Stained Cross” is a passionate hymn by John H. Stockton, best remembered for composing “Come, Every Soul by Sin Oppressed.” Stockton’s evangelistic spirit is reflected strongly in this hymn, which centers on the cross of Christ as the symbol of redemption and the believer’s boast. Drawing on Galatians 6:14, where Paul declares, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,” the hymn exalts the cross as the believer’s source of hope and victory.

The repetition in the opening line, “The cross! The cross! The blood-stained cross,” is a deliberate poetic device meant to stir the heart, drawing attention to the centrality of Christ’s sacrifice. Stockton reminds worshippers that the cross is not only a historical event but also the continual ground of assurance, cleansing, and reconciliation with God. The “blood-stained” imagery highlights the cost of salvation and the love of Christ who gave Himself for sinners.

Like many revival hymns of the 19th century, the text has a strong evangelistic thrust. It calls the hearer to cling to the cross, to glory in it, and to proclaim its power. The hymn balances both personal devotion and corporate testimony, making it suitable for revival meetings and congregational worship alike.

Stockton’s emphasis is not merely on suffering, but on triumph through the cross. By lifting high the atoning work of Jesus, the hymn points believers to their eternal boast: salvation through Christ’s shed blood. For Stockton and those touched by his ministry, this hymn stood as a declaration of faith and a rallying cry for believers to proclaim the gospel of the cross to a lost world.