The Old Rugged Cross | Hymn25

1913 | George Bennard

In 1913 an American Methodist preacher by the name of George Bennard wrote a song about the Old Rugged Cross – the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. In Bennard’s words, Christ’s cross is seen as “the emblem of suffering and shame”, yet it has “a wondrous attraction” and “a wondrous beauty”. How can a symbol of such shame be found so attractive? Because it is there that “Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me.”

A cross hangs front and center in our sanctuary. Certainly as reminder of our sin and shame that Jesus paid for with his life. Yet always accompanied and made beautiful by the loving power of our living, breathing, always-interceding Jesus. Jesus has a way of flipping the things of this world upside down. What was once a tool for cruel execution has become a mechanism for our salvation. Thank You Jesus for enduring the Old Rugged Cross.

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.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.

To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share. [Refrain]

Jon Lilley | Worship Arts Pastor