Jonny Diaz is an artist whose mission in life is to serve the body of Christ. From the beginning of his music career, Diaz’s desire has been to write songs that entertain, encourage and challenge fellow believers.
His latest album, simply titled
Jonny Diaz, is a collection of songs that accomplish his mission.
“I attempted to break free from some of the traditional confines of Christian music, but I couldn’t get away from the fact that most of my songs revolve around my relationship with Christ,” he explains. “He is the focus of my life and I find it impossible to honestly record my emotions and my journey without including Him. The people who truly understand my music share this same kind of relationship with God.”
In
More Beautiful You, Jonny shared a heart passionate about reaching his generation with the message of God's love. Now with the new self-titled album, Jonny Diaz, the grace-filled conversation continues in "Delights in You", "Break My Heart", "God Is Watching", "Love I'm Living For", "How Can It Be", "Weeps for You", "Here and Someday" and "The Chick-Fil-A Song"--plus the hit single, "Beauty of the Cross."
This aptly descriptive and intelligent pop effort reveals lyrics, melodies and instrumentation that go far deeper than the stereotypical pop hit song. I had the great opportunity to interview Jonny recently about his current single “Beauty of the Cross.” This is the background he shared with me about the song.
Regarding "Beauty of the Cross," what's the main message of the song?
This is the first song I’ve recorded that I haven’t written. The first time I heard it, I was drawn straight to God’s throne in worship. I am not a “worship artist,” but there is something special about this song and I wanted to be a part of it. The great irony and beauty here is that we’re singing about one of the most awful torture devices ever conceived by man, and yet we are calling it beautiful. Those of us whose lives have been changed by the sacrifice Jesus made for us at Calvary know exactly why the cross is so beautiful.
Which Bible verses go with the message of the song?
Luke 23:39-43: Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
How can listeners apply that message in their walk with God?
The song is called “Beauty Of The Cross.” This title may not sound very strange or contradictory to you. After all, we’ve been singing songs such as “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and “How Beautiful the Cross” for decades. However, if you step back and check this out from a non-churched perspective, you have to admit that it seems a little weird! That’s because to this day the cross is known as one of the most torturous killing devices ever conceived.
No one would ever sing a song called “The Beauty Of The Electric Chair” or, “The Wondrous Lethal Injection.” Songs like these would not only get puzzled looks, but they would enrage many listeners. And yet, we sing songs proclaiming the wondrous beauty of the cross, and no one bats an eye. How do we explain this? Well, it was on that ugly, barbaric cross that God’s amazing love for us was demonstrated. It was on that cross that Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us was made. It was on that cross where the forces of evil and the grace of God battled for supremacy.
At first glance, it would appear that evil was victorious... but three days later, when Jesus’ tomb was found empty, everything changed! You see, it was the resurrection that brought beauty to that blood-stained cross. It was the resurrection that turned tragedy into triumph and sacrifice into salvation. It was the resurrection that transformed condemnation into redemption.
Without the resurrection the cross would remain just a horrific symbol of suffering and shame. Instead it is a symbol of love and life and beauty. And, when we believe that Jesus died on that cross for our sins and that he rose from the grave on the third day, our lives become beautiful too.
Here are the lyrics:
At the cross I find the beauty of Your matchless grace
At the cross I see a King who died to take my place
It's the moment that You made me clean and pardoned my soul
Amazing grace that I would be allowed unto Your throne
Not by my own will but solely by Your will alone
I'm unworthy of this love You have shown to me
I see my desperate need
The beauty of the cross is that there's One who has redeemed my soul
Beauty of the cross is that I'm finally free and letting go
Beauty of the cross is that Your grace has found me just as I am
Not by my own works that I may boast or I may come
But simply through your Son the sinless and Exalted One
Only through the cross that I'm made clean to draw near to You
Saved so that You would receive all glory due Your name
Everlasting God from age to age you never change
A true love story remains for all eternity
That all the world would see
My sinful soul could only be
Redeemed by the blood of a sinless King
So You came to the world that You had made
Conquered sin on the cross and You rose from the grave
That's the beauty of the cross
Here’s Matthew Henry’s commentary on Luke 23:39-43: “Jesus was crucified between two thieves; in them were shown the different effects the cross of Christ would have upon the children of men in the preaching the gospel. One malefactor was hardened to the last. No troubles of themselves will change a wicked heart. The other was softened at the last: he was snatched as a brand out of the burning, and made a monument of Divine mercy. This gives no encouragement to any to put off repentance to their death-beds, or to hope that they shall then find mercy. It is certain that true repentance is never too late; but it is as certain that late repentance is seldom true. None can be sure they shall have time to repent at death, but every man may be sure he cannot have the advantages this penitent thief had. It is a single instance in Scripture; it should teach us to despair of none, and that none should despair of themselves; but lest it should be abused, it is contrasted with the awful state of the other thief, who died hardened in unbelief, though a crucified Savior was so near him. Be sure that in general men die as they live.”
The reactions of the onlookers to the crucifixion were varied. The rulers sneered at Jesus. The soldiers mocked him. One of the criminals crucified with Him hurled insults at Him. But the women mourned and wailed for Him. The other thief asked Jesus to remember him. The centurion at the foot of the cross recognized Him as a righteous man and praised God for Him. His friends stood at a distance.
God is not abstract or a figment of our imagination, He’s real. He came to Earth as Jesus and suffered and died for us. He took our sins and was sacrificed as a spotless Lamb so that we can have eternal life. This is a great song to sing to our savior, Jesus. Thank Him for coming to die on our behalf so that people who put their hope and trust in Him as their blameless substitute can be saved. That’s the beauty of the cross.
