Title: “Old Rugged Cross: Bow Before It – Then Cling To It For Your Life”
Opening:
It’s April 9th, 2026. I want to share with you another song from the playlist that my youngest sister sent to me on Easter Sunday. Old Rugged Cross. This is not likely a version of the song you have heard before. The message though, that is the same.
The Hymn’s Power / Bow Before It:
As I searched the depths of my own soul during Were You There, this song brought me right to the foot of the cross. When I think about the cross, I think about reverence. To me, this would be quiet humility and submissive posture. What took place on the cross demands such posture. I would bow, out of gratitude, at a magnitude I cannot explain or quantify. So my days, I pray that, I’ll be an engaged participant in His service. When I come around to raising my head while still at the foot of the cross, I should still remember to remain bowed. For the weight of the sacrifice made just for me should forever break me and bend me.
Personal Connection / Cling To It For Your Life:
Cling to the cross. It should be central to who we are, how we are, and where we want to go. I fail at this all the time. Like anything else we wish to be good at, we must practice. So, while I still get this wrong, I practice a real life version of how I see this equation. In my mind, it’s a simple line graph that runs from zero to one hundred. If I am playing god of my life (pursuing the chaotic beat of the flesh) then I am growing ever closer to one hundred on the line.
On the other hand, when I am tapping into the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.) I am clinging to the cross and the pure love that was given just for me there. Then I am nearer to zero on the line, which means, more of Him, and less of me. As it should be.
The Bigger Truth / Tetelestai:
Pastor Josh Howerton has some tremendous insights in this area. These are my own words in an attempt to convey the weight of this.
- The Debt Paid in Full: Start with the word “Tetelestai.” This isn’t just “It is finished”, it’s much deeper. While we are born, miraculous masterpieces, our nature is sinful. We are destined to fail on a scale of perfection and blamelessness. Blame free will if you want, but nobody would sign up for the opposite of that. Either way, the origin of sin stamped this flaw on our nature. Therefore, we sin. God, knowing this, yet still loving us, sent Jesus to the cross for all of us. When we receive the bill at the end of the night, it’s stamped PAID IN FULL, because of the cross.
- The Sentence Served: This is a powerful image. We were on death row, sentenced for our imperfection, and Jesus not only paid the fine but served the time in full. The sentence that we should be serving has been served in full. All because of the cross.
- The Victory Declared: This is the resurrection hope. It’s not just a negative cancellation of debt; it’s a positive declaration of victory. Jesus wins. Jesus won. Death and sin have been conquered. Death by crucifixion on the cross was a Roman symbol of the worst, most excruciating way one could die. That is how Jesus, never ceasing to be God, died. He then shed his temporary body three days later. Only Jesus could take a symbol so dark and tied directly to evil and turn it into a place of victory, like planting a flag on conquered land. Tears well up just writing these words.
Stop:
Victory in battle over death and sin. It’s amazing! We can’t do that. God loved us so much he sent His own Son to the cross for us. It’s remarkable. It’s the greatest love story of all time. The fact that this was done on our behalf out of pure love is beautiful. We must humbly admit this. When you really think about what all that means, it’s hard to wrap your heads around because we can’t get to that level. We can’t do it for ourselves.
Final Call to Action:
Practice being less of a white-knuckled, death-grip, steering machine trying to maintain control in every possible way. Instead, loosen the grip and embrace the love that was shown for us all on the cross. It’s absolutely gut-wrenching to know that, a. it’s the only way we can be redeemed, and b. the amount of pure divine love that was put forth for each one us.
While you’re doubled over from the gut punch of that reality, look up Galatians 5:22-23, and practice, practice, practice those glorious fruits of the Spirit.
So until next time, don’t stray from the cross and may God bless.
Listen to the hymn that moved me:
Visit my “Resurrection Hymns” page to hear “Old Rugged Cross” and other songs from this playlist:
More reflections coming soon:
This is the second in a series of posts about these powerful hymns. Check back in the coming days as I share how other songs from the Resurrection Of A King playlist impacted me. Set in motion from that Easter Sunday playlist that followed me all through northern New England the next day.
Watch my video reflection on this hymn: My YouTube Short Video on this