The Old Rugged Cross

       The old familiar hymn starts, “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross”. 

       That is where we come this week, to that lonely hill to look at the cross where Jesus hung.  That ugly, horrible place that was so fearful, so hideous, that his disciples abandoned him and left him to die alone.  There in great pain and agony, Jesus died not because of anything he had done but because out of love for us, for God’s wayward children, Jesus gave everything, including his life.

       What happened on that hill, on that cross is so terrible that if we didn’t know the rest of the story, it would be unbearable.  How  could anyone stand to watch that happen to another human being?  And even more, how could a mother stand there and watch it happen to her child?

        But today we come willingly to hear the story again and to watch in our minds and hearts what happened to Jesus on that hill some 2,000 years ago.

       Why do we cling to this old rugged cross?  How can we bear to come here?

It is only possible because we know the rest of the story.  We know that even though the people who wanted it carried out had only fear and hate in their hearts, the reason that Jesus hung on that cross was love.   Out of love, Jesus gave himself that the world might be saved.

       The cross is the symbol of God’s love.

       Even so, Jesus knew how unbearable it was for his mother Mary to watch.  Even in his pain and agony, he turned to her.  The Gospel of John tells us that when he saw the beloved disciple, John standing next to her, he told her, “Woman, here is your son.”  He looked at John and said, “Here is your mother”. (John 19:25-27)

        He had concern not only that Mary would not be left alone, but that she should have a home, shelter, and to be provided for.  Even while Jesus did what was necessary to save the world and worked salvation’s cosmic deed, he also cared personally and intimately for this woman, his mother.

       That’s the miracle of God’s saving grace.  On one level, it is the act of saving the world, of redeeming all of God’s children for all time – salvation on a cosmic and eternal level.  And yet, Jesus’ act is also one of love for each of us individually and personally.

       Jesus died that awful death for John and Mary, for you, and for me.

       That old rugged cross is not just a symbol, it is the means by which sin and death are defeated. 

        And so it is appropriate for us to come and gather at the foot of the rugged cross; to remember the giver and the price he paid for us. It is appropriate for us to remember our sinfulness and the need of forgiveness that we each have.  Each one of us is the reason that Jesus hung on this cross.

       And so we cling to the old rugged cross.  It is here at the foot of the cross that we find forgiveness.  It is here at the foot of the cross that we are reassured of God’s love; that we are welcome just as we are.  It is here at the foot of the cross that sin is defeated and we hear the good news of the resurrection and life everlasting.

       It is right that we should mark the gravity, the weight of price that Jesus paid for us.  His death, his agony was not a symbol but was real.  

       But this is also the time for celebration.  This old rugged cross is empty.  The story does not end here; it all begins here and it lasts forever.  Because of this cross, we live forever.  Because of the cross, we have forgiveness, we are embraced and held in God's love, and we live in hope and joy!  Read John 19:13 - 20:18  (Please take time this week for the longer reading.)