The traveling evangelist, George Bennard, wrote the hymn, The Old Rugged Cross, in 1913. He was saved through the ministry of the Salvation Army, and without formal training, began his own ministry later in life. He writes, “I was praying for a full understanding of the cross…I read and studied and prayed…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. While watching this scene with my mind’s eye, the theme of the song came to me” (Then Sings My Soul, p.275).
There is power in the cross. It is through the cross that God has chosen to save men from their own sins and give them eternal life. There is no other way. The cross breaks the condemnation of sin for Christ was condemned for us. Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16, NKJ). The cross invites all men from all over the world, from all spans of time, to be saved from all depths of sin through the Christ who died for them. The cross is the power of salvation.
There is peace in the cross. The forgiveness of sins from God Himself enables us to have peace both now and forever. Paul wrote, “….having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20, NKJ). The bruised and battered body of Jesus endured the judgment for our sin so that we might have peace with God. He endured the wrath of God so that we would not have to. Isaiah the prophet wrote, “But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV).
There is pardon in the cross. We are all guilty. We have all strayed. The Scripture says, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10, NKJ). Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners (I Timothy 1:15). Through the cross, forgiveness is offered to all people everywhere. Paul wrote, “Through Him we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7, NKJ). The hymn states, “And I love that old cross, where the dearest and best, for a world of lost sinners was slain.”
The cross shows each of us how sinful we are. It took the cross to save our souls. The cross shows how loving God is. He was willing to send His perfect Son to die in our place. The cross shows us the only way to be saved. Will you humble yourself before God and cling to the Christ of the cross?