The Old Rugged Cross - Hymn 618

1.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame,
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus:

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.

2.

Oh, 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.

3.

In the 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.

1 Peter 2:24 Who Himself bore up our sins in His body on the tree, in order that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose bruise you were healed.

we sang this hymn this morning. Actually this is the first time I sing this hymn, and I really appreciated the word. 

"And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain."

the Dearest and Best, here refers to the Lord Jesus. during that time, the Roman empire use the cross to crucify the worst criminals, like, murderers, or robbers. therefore, people all despise the cross and consider that as a place of shame. However, the Lord Jesus went to the cross and died there. why was He willing to suffer in such a way? the Lord Jesus died for a world of lost sinners, that is us. He, as the Lamb of God, bore our sins and took away the sin of the world. if we see what the Lord has done for us, we will cherish the old rugged cross, cling to the old rugged cross. the cross will become a wondrous attraction or us. 

https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/618