George Bennard wrote the words to this song. He wrote that he was reading, studying and meditating on the cross in the plan of God. As he did so, the Christ of the cross became more than a symbol. “It was like seeing John 3:16 leave the printed page, take form, and act out the meaning of redemption” (as quoted by William Jensen Reynolds in Hymns of our Faith: A Handbook for the Baptist Hymnal, pg 154).
THE EMBLEM OF SUFFERING AND SHAME
An emblem is a “visible symbol of a thing, idea, class of people, etc.; object or representation that stands for or suggests something else.”
If you look at the cross from the human side, you might say that it is the emblem of suffering and shame. Here you have an innocent man suffering for sins he did not commit.
But from the divine side, the cross is an emblem of so much more. It is the emblem of God’s love. It is John 3:16 in real life. It is God’s mercy. It is God choosing not to give us what we deserve. It is God’s grace. God did not have to extend salvation to us in the cross. Thus, the cross is also an emblem of the justice of God. Sin had to be punished. The wages of sin is death. We all sin. We deserve – like Barabbas – to die.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE OLD RUGGED CROSS?
What sin have you committed? Have you lost your temper with your husband? Have you looked at pornography? Have you lied to your children? Have you disobeyed your parents? Have you said something hateful about someone else? Have you bragged about your own accomplishments?
Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify you and me. Why do we love that old cross? Because Jesus paid the price for our sins.
Jesus had the glory of God when He was in heaven – no pain, no death, no tears. He was everything God was and distant from the mess of His human creation. But He brought that glory down to earth and took that glory to the cross – for you and me.
MY RESPONSE TO THE CROSS
Verse 4 says, “I’ll be true to that old rugged cross.” To be true means to be faithful, loyal, and constant. Can God depend on you?
Can God depend on you to live the Christian life as faithfully as possible?
Can God depend on you to worship regularly with His children?
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Can God depend on you to give liberally and cheerfully?
Can God depend on you to teach His word accurately and patiently to others?
“I will bear gladly its shame and reproach.” It’s not popular all the time to be a Christian. It’s not even popular within ourselves to do the right thing. Will we bear the shame and reproach that comes with the cross of Christ?
The chorus says I’ll “cherish” the old rugged cross until I lay my trophies down.
And then it says I’ll exchange “it” – that is, my cross I bear – some day for a crown.
Will you cherish the cross until you lay down your trophies –? Whatever trophies you’ve received? Whatever trophies you’ve earned?
Will you cling in faithful devotion and total commitment to the cross, so you can one day exchange it for the glory of your own crown?
Can you delay serving yourself for just one short lifetime – serve Christ instead – in order to one day receive something worth far more than anything you could possibly have or achieve in this life?
–PAUL HOLLAND
