The poem reflects deeply on Charles Spurgeon’s quote and the image of Christ crucified. It portrays the speaker’s horrified realization that every personal sin helped drive the nails into Jesus—the “best Friend” and Savior who died in agony to redeem them. Because Christ’s death was the ultimate payment for those very sins, the speaker resolves never again to treat evil lightly, flirt with it, or indulge it. Instead, they vow to hate and reject the darkness that murdered their Lord, choosing instead to live wholly for the One who loved them to the end.

In essence:
Christ died for my sin → therefore I must hate and refuse to trifle with the sin that killed Him.

The tone is one of repentant awe, fierce gratitude, and solemn determination.

Shall I behold the cross where mercy bled,
And see my sin the nail that pierced His side?
Yet still I dally with the path He tread
To death, and call the darkness my own bride?

No—He who hung in agony for me,
My dearest Friend, my Savior, and my Lord,
Was slain by every selfish thought in me,
By every lust my wayward heart adored.

If grace so vast has paid redemption’s price,
How can I play with shadows that He slew?
Each trifling sin revives the ancient vice
That crowned Him thorns and drenched His visage through.

O let me hate what murdered such a Friend,
And live for Him whose love will never end.