The Old Rugged Cross

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

Hebrews 12: 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

One of the must famous hymns ever put to words in our time The Old Rugged Cross.

Written by George Bennard.

John 19: 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Look at this song that we so often sing and don’t realize what its saying to us.

1. The region of the cross.

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross”

This hill was a place of death it was called “place of the skull”

It was just outside the gates of Jerusalem

This hill glorified by the death of Jesus Christ for our sins.

It has never and will never be the same since he died there.

2. The reproach of the cross.

“The emblem of suffering and shame”

They stripped his garments from his body and left him naked.

John 19: 23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Bringing him to open shame.

His enemies fell up on him.

Romans 15: 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

He endured the cross despising the shame.

Hebrews 12: 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. The reach of the cross.

“For a world of lost sinners was slain”

This was his purpose for coming.

Matthew 20: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

He gave himself for us.

Titus 2: 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

He died for all.

2nd Corinthians 5: 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

4. The redemption of the cross.

“Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me”

He redeemed us from the curse of the law.

Galatians 3: 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

We have redemption through his blood.

Ephesians 1: 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

1st Peter 1: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

He obtained eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9: 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

5. A reward from the cross.

“And exchange it some day for a Crown”

Our glory is the cross.

Galatians 6: 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Walk under the banner of the cross and get a crown.

1st Corinthians 9: 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.