As the curtain was torn open between God's presence and mankind's veiled faces, the first person to confess the glory of Christ was one of his executioners...
"Surely this man was the son of God"
Mark 15:39
Any reflection on the cross helps soften our hearts. Being so far removed from the actual event, I have found helpful to reflect on the lyrics of a hymn.
"The Old Rugged Cross" by George Bennard shows the process of drawing closer to the meaning and impact of Jesus' death.
At first the cross is "ON A HILL FAR AWAY"...
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.
In today's world, Satan works hard to keep us far away from the cross when in fact, we need not suffer that experience. Paul said in Ephesians 2:13, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."
Secondly, there is "A WONDROUS ATTRACTION"...
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.
Cerainly, the cross is source of truth that the Spirit convicts our hearts with when we hear its message. Jesus said it like this in John 12:32-33:
" 'But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.' He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die."Thirdly, A WONDROUS BEAUTY WE SEE...
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.
Finally, to the cross "I WILL EVER BE TRUE"...
To the 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.
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.
Jerry Maday, Worcester, MA
Click here to access The Cross, a short film by KNN Productions. Use it in your worship service, family devotional or quiet time. The Cross DVD comes in many languages.