以撒．華茲（Isaac Watts）是史上傑出的聖詩作者之一，他在所寫的《奇妙十架》中，使用了相互矛盾的詞語來作對比，在第三和第四句最為明顯：「從前名利今當糞土，昔日所誇今覺鄙下。」這種手法有時被稱為矛盾修辭法，就是將兩個相互矛盾的詞語，或互相抵觸的事物組合在一起，以產生強有力的效果，例如「口是心非」、「甜蜜的負擔」。華茲以這種手法在詩歌中帶出了深刻的含意。

耶穌也經常使用這樣的表達方式，例如「心靈貧乏的人有福了」（馬太福音5章3節，新譯本），意思是說，沒有盼望的人所得到的將遠遠超出他們的想像。當你我為失去至親好友而哀傷時，耶穌說我們「必得安慰」（4節）。耶穌讓我們看見，在上帝的國度裡，一般的規律並不適用。

這些看似矛盾的說法告訴我們，在基督裡的生命將打破一切常規：我們這些無名小卒也可以成為上帝所珍愛的人。在十字架上，耶穌戴上了一個看似矛盾的荊棘冠冕。華茲將這被人嘲笑的象徵，以矛盾修辭法賦予其獨特的美感：「如此愛、憂自古焉有？荊棘反成榮耀冕旒。」願我們在受激勵的同時，也謹記詩歌的最後一句：「主愛如此神聖奇妙，願獻我魂、我命、我的全部！」

One of the great hymn writers of all time, Isaac Watts, wrote “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” In penning its lyrics, he used the poetic device of paradox to show a contrast in themes: “my richest gain I count but loss” and “pour contempt on all my pride.” We sometimes call these oxymorons, “words used in seeming contradiction to themselves”—like “awfully good” and “jumbo shrimp.” In the case of Watts’ lyrics, this device is far more profound.

Jesus used paradox often. “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3), He said, suggesting that those who have no hope will receive more than they could ever hope for. When you or I mourn the loss of  someone dear and are sad, Jesus says we “will be comforted” (v. 4). Christ was showing how in God’s kingdom the common rules of life don’t apply.

These paradoxes tell us that life in Christ defies all expectations: we who are nobodies are cherished as somebodies. It was on the cross that Jesus bore a visual paradox—a crown of thorns. Isaac Watts took this symbol of ridicule and, paradoxically, gave it soaring beauty: “Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, / or thorns compose so rich a crown?” In this we thrill yet are mindful of the final line of the hymn: “Love so amazing, so divine, / demands my soul, my life, my all.”