The Old Rugged Cross: Declared

Introduction

When we look at the old rugged cross, many things come to mind. In fact, we have talked about some of those things over the last few weeks. We see it was defined as an instrument of death. We see it was despised as an emblem of suffering and shame. We see it was designated by Almighty God to be the place where His only begotten Son would suffer and die as an atonement for my sin. We certainly see all of these things and so much more, but we we first must see what the old rugged cross declares. There are many passages that speak of the cross and the Savior that died such a horrible death upon it. One such passage for me rises to the top. It is Philippians 2:6-11

Philippians 2:6–11 NIV84

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In this passage we are reminded that we don’t work from the cross, but we work toward the cross. The cross declares much for us when we work towards it! Notice from this beautiful passage the person declared.

The Person Declared

The Person declared is Jesus Christ the Son of God.

His Nature

His nature was God. How can that be? John 1:1

John 1:1 NIV84

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

From the very beginning of all creation, the Lord Jesus Christ was there. He was the Word. He was with God. He was and still is God.

John 14:9 NIV84

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

What an important reminder about His nature.

His Nothingness

Notice His nothingness. He made Himself nothing. 2 Corinthians 8:9

2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV84

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

He left everything to become nothing. It literally means He poured Himself out. Taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. He forsook His preexistent life with God and became nothing. Because He did, we can identify with Him and He can identify with us.

Hebrews 4:15 NIV84

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

Even His name causes a reaction.

His Name

His name is higher than any other name. His name is not a cuss word but one to which all creation will cry out. Ephesians 1:20-21

Ephesians 1:20–21 NIV84

20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Read that in context sometime starting back at verse 17 and I promise you will go into a time of worship!

But on this Palm Sunday as you look toward that old rugged cross, we need to look at the pathway declared.

The Pathway Declared

Jesus knew the time was near. Tradition holds that He came into Jerusalem riding a colt, completing prophecy and receiving accolades of “Hosanna, Glory to God in the Highest.” The same crowd that shouted these words would within a week, shout “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

Jesus knew what was coming. The pathway He had chosen was the pathway of God. He wanted to gather with His disciples, His closest friends as they had spent the last three years together.

The Upper Room

Luke 22:8–12 NIV84

8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. 10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

We know that this room is where the Last Supper would take place.

Incidentally, the room that traditionally was seen as the place of the Last Supper is now used by Muslims.

I am reminded that the pathway beginning at the Upper Room is no longer considered to be sacred.

Jesus leaves the upper room and His pathway leads to the Garden of Gethsemane.

The Garden of Gethsemane

Matthew 26:36 NIV84

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

The Garden of Gethsemane is place where many olive trees have flourished. We know from Scripture that Jesus prayed for Himself, His disciples, and ultimately for all believers there that night, perhaps in this very spot.

The Kidron Valley

John 18:1 NIV84

1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.

After He prays, Judas betrays Him with a kiss and Jesus is arrested.

He is taken to the high priest’s house and passed along to Caiaphas. There He is placed in a dungeon in the basement.

The Dungeon at Caiaphas’ House

Psalm 88:6 (NIV84)

6 You have put me in the lowest pit,

in the darkest depths.

Psalm 88:18 (NIV84)

18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me;

the darkness is my closest friend.

The pathway of Jesus had to have this prophecy fulfilled. So, He was lowered into this dungeon and kept there over night.

Herod’s House

Scripture tells us He was taken to Pilate. It is believed that Pilate was staying at Herod’s house, a Roman house in Jerusalem.

John 19:13 NIV84

13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha).

Pilate gives the crowd a chance to release Jesus, but they yell, “Crucify Him!”

John 19:16 (NIV84)

16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.

Jesus would be humiliated and beaten until He bled on these very stones.

He would be forced to carry His cross.

Mark 15:20–21 (NIV84)

20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

The Via Dolorosa

He would be led on the Via Dolorosa through the streets of Old Jerusalem.

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I will never forget retracing these steps. The person that the old rugged cross declared and the pathway that He took was for me. He was forced to go to a place declared also by the old rugged cross.

The Place Declared

Golgotha

Matthew 27:33 (NIV84)

33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).

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It is also called Calvary.

Calvary

Luke 23:33 NKJV

33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.

Another place that the old rugged cross has to be declared is your heart.

Your Heart

Romans 10:9 NIV84

9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Do you believe in your heart? There was also a promise declared.

The Promise Declared

Philippians 2:9–11 (NIV84)

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

God Exalted Him

God exalted Him to the highest place, giving Him the name that is above every name.

Knees Bow to Him

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth.

Tongues Confess Him

And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.

The question therefore, is what will you declare? The person, the pathway, the place and the promise all declare that Jesus is the Lord of Lords and King of kings. We have an opportunity to declare as we remember what Jesus did that night of His betrayal. Paul wrote about this in

1 Corinthians 11:23–29 NIV84

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Let’s take a moment and prepare to receive the Lord’s Supper.