The Old Rugged Cross: Designated

Introduction

The third verse of the Hymn The Old Rugged Cross, has some pretty significant theology in it.

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.

The phrase “stained with blood divine” reminds me that for the blood to be divine, there had to be a divine plan. To me that means that the divine plan from our Divine God had to be designated. The word designate means to mark or point out, denote, indicate or signify. Jesus committed to the way of His Father. There is an example for us to follow in Jesus through this old rugged cross. While many of us will most likely never be crucified, we can learn much from our Savior and how He faced and went through His crucifixion.

Jesus had been arrested in the olive grove. He is taken to the High Priest Annas who questions Him about His teachings and His disciples. He is struck in the face. Annas sends the arrested Jesus to Caiaphas who in turn takes Him to the palace of the Roman Governor Pilate. Pilate tries to encourage the Sanhedrin to take care of the matter themselves, but the Jews claimed they had no right to execute anyone. Pilate asks, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

John 18:36–37 (NIV84)

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Jesus is divinely designated. The first way I see this here is that Jesus is designated to trust His Father.

Designated to Trust

In the great scheme of things, we would always do well to do the same.

Trusting the Plan of God

Even as a boy, Jesus was trusting the plan of God. Remember when His parents lost Him and they found Him at the temple? Luke 2:49

Luke 2:49 NIV84

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Multiple examples are easily found in Scripture of Jesus trusting the plan of God and He wanted to make sure others knew that as well.

John 14:31 (NIV84)

31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

Trusting the Place of God

Jesus trusted the place of God. He told Pilate “My kingdom is not of this world, it is from another place.” Yet at that moment, Jesus trusted all that was taking place with Pilate as the Divine will of God. Don’t you know that Jesus could have called on 10,000 angels to come to His defense at any moment. Yet, He trusted the place that God had placed Him. Jesus knew that God was with Him.

Psalm 46:1 (NIV84)

1 God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

We can be assured that in our darkest moments, wherever that place may be, God is there and we can trust the place of God.

Trusting the Power of God

Jesus knew He could trust the power of God. It was such a bold statement of Jesus to say to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews.” Jesus knew that the power of God would deliver Him. We are reminded that in the most grim circumstances, the power of God can prevail.

1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV84

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

There is so much power in the power of God. It sounds redundant, but the truth for us this morning is this example of Jesus facing His cross. He knew what was on the other side. You and I must remember that when we are facing our crosses each day.

Designated to Teach

Notice also that the old rugged cross was designated to teach.

Teaching in Trials

The example of Jesus is teaching us what we should do in the midst of trials. We have already shown this in the previous section. However, any trial that we face, we must remember that God is Bigger! 1 Corinthians 15:57

1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV84

57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the midst of our trials we can be assured that we will be victorious. Therefore, we can be bold. An example of this boldness comes in what Jesus is teaching us in testimony.

Teaching in Testimony

Did you notice that Jesus was sharing His testimony with Pilate? Jesus said, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” I can hear you saying, “Sure, that was Jesus the Son of God! He was supposed to be able to do that!” Dear friend, do you not know that you have the power, the boldness, and the ability of Jesus within you? When was the last time you shared your testimony of what Jesus has done in your life? Don’t miss what is happening here! The One on trial and imprisoned is telling the one who is the judge how to be free! Jesus is showing Pilate TRUTH. Does your testimony reveal the truth of Jesus in your life?

Teaching Timely

The teaching of Jesus is timely. Pilate understands little. He hears Jesus speak of His kingdom so Pilate digs a little deeper. “You are a king, then?”, Pilate asked. Jesus uses this question to give a timely answer. Jesus declares that He moved from the glory He shared with His Father in His presence.

John 17:5 NIV84

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus came with the glory of the presence of God to equate Himself with this world while manifesting the glory of God.

John 1:14 NIV84

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus tells Pilate in so many words that He came to be King and testify to the truth.

Designated to Testify

What is the truth He was designated to testify?

Testifying to Glorify God

First and foremost, He was testifying to glorify God. Jesus said in John 7:16

John 7:16 NIV84

16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.

John 8:29 NIV84

29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

Jesus always gave God the glory.

Testifying to Great Things

He was always testifying to the great things God had done.

John 11:40 NIV84

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

The old rugged cross reminds us that Jesus was designated to testify to the glory of God, testify to the great things God has done, and to testify of God’s redemption.

Testifying to God’s Redemption

The statement of Jesus saying “not of this world” does not mean that He is not active in this world.

1 John 5:4 NIV84

4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

In overcoming the world, God has given us the opportunity to experience redemption which leads to eternal life.

John 17:3 NIV84

3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

The old rugged cross showed Jesus was designated to trust, teach and testify about His Heavenly Father even to the point of dying on it.

Designated to Truth

Jesus was designated to the truth.

Truth About Sin

He wanted the world to know the truth about sin. John 8:34

John 8:34 NIV84

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

Paul would later write that we all deal with sin.

Romans 3:23 NIV84

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 NIV84

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 NIV84

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Truth About a Savior

The old rugged cross tells us the truth about a Savior. His name is Jesus.

John 3:17–18 NIV84

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

This Savior stood before Pilate, the highest governor in the land proclaiming the truth about a Savior and the Kingdom for which He stands. Pilate was to learn about the truth about salvation.

Truth About Salvation

At some point, everyone must decide what they will do with Jesus. Pilate was a coward because he would not decide for himself what do to about Jesus. He passed the buck on the the crowd.

John 18:38–40 NIV84

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” 40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.

We think that if we go to church, hang out with Christian people, do the right things, and be law abiding citizens we will have salvation. The truth about salvation is that it requires an individual response. It is not what your parents did. It is not what your friends did. Each of us has to respond to the question, “What will you do with Jesus and what happened on that old rugged cross?”

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.