The Old Rugged Cross // Good Friday [Holy Week]

The Old Rugged Cross
Author: Josh Rhodes, Community Life Pastor 
Day 6: Good Friday
Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:1-14, 26-61
Growing up in the small Baptist church my father pastored, I fondly remember singing an old hymn entitled, The Old Rugged Cross. Written in 1912 by a pastor named George Bennard, its words still resonate deeply. The first verse goes like this:

"On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain."

On this sacred and somber day that we call "Good Friday," let's consider the Biblical truth of this hymn as we reflect on what Jesus accomplished for us on The Old Rugged Cross.

"On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,"

It was on Golgotha, the place of the skull, that Jesus was crucified. But before His hands and feet were nailed to the cross, He endured unimaginable pain. Matthew 27 recounts the crucifixion, echoed in the other three Gospels: Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 18-19. In Matthew 27:26-31, we read that Jesus was stripped, flogged (whipped 39 times with a whip designed to tear apart flesh), mocked, had a crown of thorns forced onto His head, and was spat upon. Matthew 27:31 tells us, "When they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him." We often focus on the crucifixion itself, but the preceding hours of suffering were equally agonizing.

"the emblem of suffering and shame"

The cross isn't just another symbol to wear on a necklace—it is the emblem, a symbol of suffering and shame. The Roman cross, cruel and infamous, remains one of history's most inhumane ways to torture and execute someone. We know from harmonizing the four Gospel accounts that Jesus was nailed to the cross at 9:00 am and died at 3:00 pm. For hours leading up to the cross, and for those six long hours nailed on the cross, He endured shame and suffering in every imaginable way—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Yet through His agony, Jesus exemplified His love for humanity, willingly enduring the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2).

"and I love that old cross where the dearest and best"

Jesus is indeed the dearest and the best! Fully God and fully man, He lived a sinless life marked by grace, truth, and love. 1 Corinthians 5:21 states, "He (God) made the One (Jesus) who did not know sin to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." This is why we sing of Jesus being the best—because He is! His selflessness and love shown on the cross are unparalleled, forever defining what true love and sacrifice look like.

"for a world of lost sinners was slain."

This is why Jesus died on that Good Friday 2,000 years ago—for a world of lost sinners, including me, you, and everyone else. Romans 3:23 reminds us, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." According to Romans 6:23, the penalty for sin is death. But the Good News is this: "But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" (Romans 5:8).

Through His agony, Jesus exemplified His love for humanity, willingly enduring the cross for the joy set before Him.

So friends, on this Good Friday, if you are already a Christian, I encourage you to thank God for sending Jesus and worship Jesus for laying down His life for you. If you are not yet a believer, I encourage you to place your faith in Jesus, who died in your place for your sins on The Old Rugged Cross. The reason why He sacrificially, willingly, and lovingly laid down His sinless life was to pay our sin debt and make it possible for us to have a relationship with God, beginning now and lasting for all eternity.

Recent

Archive

 2024

Categories

Tags

1 Timothy 4:3-4 1 corinthians 13 1 peter 3 1 peter 3 tips Abraham Barb Bible Christ centered friendships Christ-centered friendships Christ Control David Deuteronomy 31:8 Elijah Gideon God's Word God's faithfulness God's will God\'s Word God\'s will God\\\'s will God\\\\\\\'s will Gods Word Gods name Gods voice Gods will God Good Samaritan Isaac Isaiah 41 Isaiah 53 Isaiah James 1:22 James 4:14 Jesus is coming Jesus Jonathan Josiah Live at Peace Matthew 26:38-39 Messiah Old Testament Paul Philippians 2 Psalms Romans 6:9 Saul Savior Scripture Significant Others Talented Word of God You Say a mother's prayer a mother\'s prayer a mothers prayer a new thing abandon abby conner absolute truth acts 1:8 acts 2:42-47 acts adam and eve adam etris adam adulteror adultery adultry advent alls well that ends well anchored andrew archer andrew angels sing anger anguish anxiety apostles appreciation archer arch are you prepared art of neighboring attributes austin michels austin authorities authority baptism sunday baptism barabbas barb banhart barb barnhart barnhart be a friend be still be strong and courageous be transformed beauty from ashes becoming fearless believers believe betrayal better neighbors better be brandy gibson brandy broken bronze serpant bruce lane bruce cancel culture cancel care carols celebrate others celebration sunday changes change character chestnut ridge church christian leaders christian life christianity christian christmas with the ridge christmas church defined church design church family church circles cleaning the temple clinging to jesus colossians 1:13 community compassion concentric circles conflict connection contentment courage coveting covet created for community crisis in israel cross crowd crucifixion cultivate the soil culture daughter death debt delaney desires deuteronomy 31:6 devotional devotion disagreement discernment do not fear do not steal doers don't panic don\'t panic do dual citizenship early church easter sunday easter eight commandment elderly elections empathy encouragement end times endurance ephesians 3:14-23 ephesians5:21 eternal impact eternal king eternal life eternal security eternity etris exhausted extended family face to face faithful in the small things faithfulness faith false witness family famous last words father fear less series fear less fearless fear fifth commandment first commandement first commandment foretold forgiveness forgiven forgive forgiving forsaken foundation four tips fourth commandment free from sin freedom freely given free friendships friendship friends friend garden of gethsemane generosity generous get ready getting along gibson gifts give thanks gloria godly leaders gods faithfulness good enough good friday good works gospel government grace and truth grace hill grace grateful gratitude great commission greed grief grieve with others groups growth hard heart haring he has come he will be called heart heaven hell helping hill holy living holy monday holy saturday holy tuesday holy wednesday holy week holy homecoming hondruas honduras honor hope huggins hurricane helene husband i do but do i ian young ian identity of God identity idolatry idols immovable in all things in christ inspired intimacy invitation israel jamie huggins jamie jill wargo jill john 8:1-11 john 8:10-11 john josh rhodes josh joy judas judgemental judgement judge katie lemley katie key relationships kim sheets kim kindness kingdom of heaven king kinsman redeemer know the truth la ceiba lamb of God lane language last supper leadership legacy lemley life light of the world light listening live generously living intentionally living water logos loss love one another love loyalty luke 10:42 luke 23:34 lust lying made new manna marriage matters marriage martha matthew 22:37-39 matthew 23:24 matthew 6:3-4 maundy thursday mediator melissa parker melissa mercy michelle lemley michelle trimmer michelle michels mikvah ministry mission trip missions money morality moses murder neighbor new family new testament new testatment new year new ninth commandment o holy night ourselves overcome evil with good palm sunday parables parable parenting parents parent parker passover lamb passover pastor tim haring pastor tim pastors pastor path of life peacemaker peace people of god people perfecter perfector persecution perserverance perseverance persistence perspective philippians 4:6-7 philippians pioneer point of church point possessions power of the past pray like paul prayer life prayer plan prayer pray prepare promises of God provision psalm 139 purpose quality time race read reconciliation recreated redeemed redeemer redemption reflection rejoice relationship with God relationships relationship relative truth religion religious leaders remember response rest resurrection retaliation return revenge rhodes riches roger sealey roger role model romans 12:12 romans 12:15 romans rulers rules running the race sabbath day sabbath sacrifice salvation sealey seasons second coming second commandment secure seek the truth selfish selflessness selfless separation sermon on the mount serve Jesus serve others serve serving others serving set free seventh commandment shame share the gospel share the truth sharing the good news sheep and goats sheets signs sing sin sixth commandment social media soft heart sower speaking the truth speak spiritual gifts spiritual leaders spiritual relationships spring cleaning stand firm stealing stillness still strained straining out gnats and swallowing camels strength submit substitutionary atonement succession suffering support surrender take time talents temptation ten commandements ten commandments tender heart tenth commandment ten thankfulness thanksgiving thanks the dishonest manager the good samaritan the lost coin the lost sheep the lost son the parables of jesus the persistent widow the plot the point of church the primary purpose of the church the prodigal son the purpose of the church the rich fool the sheep and goats the sower the talents the ten virgins the two foundations the wedding banquet the word of God the word third commandment thoughts through thick and thin throught thick and thin tim haring tim titus transformation treasure trials tribulation triggered trimmer trustworthy trust truth about people truth is truth matters truthiness truth two foundations two lies and the truth ukraine unbelievers uncertainty unclean victorious victory volunteer wargo wealth wedding feast weep what's the point? what\'s the point? what\\\'s the point? what\\\\\\\'s the point? what\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s the point? whats the point whatsthepoint when we pray who am i who i am who we are wife words works of God work worry wronged you are forgiven young