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.
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 someday for a crown.
The Old Rugged Cross (1913)
By: George Bennard 1873 – 1958
Listen to this simple piano version as you read. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
We continue our journey toward Easter this week as we ponder the cross. In the first half of this stanza, we will examine the blood of the cross to find its beauty. We can see it with eyes of faith, if we will try. Let’s tune our hearts.
Blood-Stained Cross
I was surprised to find so few images when I began to look for one to represent the blood-stained cross. I found many crosses, even among the sites where I find most of my royalty-free images, but very few with blood. As I continued to search, it occurred to me that the cross stained with blood rails against our flesh so much that even we as Christians tend to sanitize this symbol.
Imagine a blank canvas. Begin to think of the cross. What do you see? Woodgrain? Cross-beam? How about the backdrop? What comes to mind for the setting? Can you see the nails? Now be honest, is there any blood?
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
But it had to be. He had to shed His blood to cover our sins. Only His blood could do it, and He loved us enough to offer it to make peace between the Father and us. Amazing!
and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:20 NKJV
RESONATE!
Think about His blood shed on the cross for you. It has covered your sins. What sins need covered today? Receive that precious gift. Even the things you have not done are covered. Give Him praise.
Wondrous Beauty
Once we are able to see the blood on the cross not only as a necessary part, but a welcome one, we are situated to behold the wondrous beauty of it. Only faith can give us eyes to see this. Do you have these eyes of faith?
A wondrous beauty I see,
The world looks at the cross and sees the bitter wounds it inflicted on our Savior. We see them, and so much more. We see the sacrifice that covers our sin. We see an invitation to die to sin. We see the power to live for righteousness, even if it costs us our lives.
When you realize the blood Jesus shed on that cross -and the wounds that caused it to flow down upon your life- have brought healing to your soul, it becomes a symbol of life as well as death.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 ESV
RESONATE!
There is a beauty in the cross that only eyes of faith can see. As I reflected on the wonder of this symbol, tears welled up in my eyes. That does not always happen, but what a gift when it does. Ask for eyes to see the wondrous beauty of the cross, then take a few minutes to think about the cross.
Jesus, thank You for shedding Your blood, which stained that cross. I want to always see it with eyes that still see the blood, but also the beauty. Help me. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Insightful Tuning!
Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.
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Video 15.3 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
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.
We know that Jesus was tortured before beginning the journey to Golgotha. As He carried His cross through the streets of Jerusalem, it would have become stained with His blood. That blood washes away the stains of sin in our lives. Thank Jesus for shedding His blood.
Apart from the work of the Spirit to show us the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice for us, the flow of blood on the cross is simply grotesque. When we see it with eyes of faith, it is transformed into the most beautiful expression of love the world has ever known. Do you see it that way?
Jesus taught in Matthew 26:28 that His blood was shed for the remission of sins. Remission is another word for forgiveness. Through the shedding of His blood, His suffering and death, Jesus accomplished this forgiveness. Thank Him right now.
Thank Him because He did not just die for the sins of the world. He died for your sins. To pardon you from the punishment you deserved, and give you a standing you could have never earned when He sanctified you or made you holy. Cherish the cross.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Sing
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 someday for a crown.
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
The post Can You See the Blood and the Beauty? appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
Blood-Stained Cross – https://www.rgbstock.com/photo/nEe1X7K/The+Blood+2
Wondrous Beauty – https://pixabay.com/photos/cross-sky-clouds-sunset-dusk-2209803/
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