Reflecting On The Old Rugged Cross

Date:

April 6th, 2025

Scripture:

Philippians 2:1-11

Page 1827 of the pew Bible

Sermon Title:

“Reflecting On The Old Rugged Cross”

Hymn Suggestions:

Opening Hymn- 92 O How I Love Jesus

2nd Hymn- 315 Were You There?

3rdHymn- 335 Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow

Closing Hymn- 327 The Old Rugged Cross

Sermon:

Good morning, Church family, I hope everyone had a great week?

I know some of you have really enjoyed this sermon series, and I have been told by some of you, that you look forward to hearing the stories behind the hymns and the scriptures that inspired the writers.

I have to be honest; I have been really looking forward to this week, The old, rugged cross has been one of my favorite hymns for as long as I can remember.

Today’s passage is Philippians 2:1-11 and can be found on Page 1827 of the pew Bible if you would like to follow along.

Starting with verse 1:

2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

2:4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.

2:7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross!

2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

2:11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father.

Now for Christians around the world, we know the significance of the cross.

We know that the cross was a tool used to carry out a death penalty where many a man was slain, including our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What many people don’t realize is that the cross was not only a form of execution, but it also served as a form of torture while the execution was taking place.

See the cross was very systematic on the way it executed someone…

People on the cross died of several factors.

One, Asphyxiation:

While hanging on the cross with arms spread wide, it made it very defalcate for a person to breath.

A person would use their legs and feet to hold themselves up in order to get some air, but when the Roman solders felt the execution was taking too long, they would break their legs, so they could not lift themselves up.

Next there was Dehydration,

As one would hang, exposed to all of the elements of the weather, one would start to dehydrate, causing shock to set in which would start shutting down the Bodley functions.

Heart Failure,

The strain on the body, and the lack of oxygen would often cause the person being crucified to start going into heart failure.

Yes, taking the words of this beloved hymn we can start seeing how the cross that stood on that hill far away was indeed the emblem of suffering and shame.

And while the Son of God hung their on that Old Rugged Cross, there were many eyes gazing upon him,

But what people didn’t see is what lied beneath the shadows of that old rugged cross.

Humility and Service, Church family, is what lied beneath the cross.

Through the words of Paul. He encourages the believers in Philippi to embody and encompass the humility and selflessness that Christ displayed on the cross.

And like the believers in Philippi, the words of Paul instruct us today to reflect on the examples and teachings of Jesus who willingly humbled Himself to be put to death on that old rugged cross.

As we read this passage of scripture this morning and look at the words of the hymn, it should serve as a challenge to the believer the necessity to adopt a posture of humility and service in their daily lives.

helping the believer to turn away from pride and self-centeredness while harboring community and reflection of Christ’s love,

especially in times of conflict and divisiveness.

As we will see as we navigate today’s message,

The cross,

a tool meant to kill,

teaches us that true joy and unity among believers come from living out humility and considering others more significant than ourselves, which mirrors the sacrificial love demonstrated by Christ Jesus on the cross.

In verses 1 and 2 of today’s scripture we read,

2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind

Church family, we need to pursue unity with purpose.

See the Philippian church was a strong thriving church.

Today a thriving church might look like a church that has multiple services due to the large amounts of people that attend.

Perhaps, a church with many programs and youth groups,

Maybe even many ministries within in the church, and community outreaches.

Regardless of your definition of a thriving church, one reality exists,

As a church family grows, and more and more people become involved with ministries and commissions, the focus on unity becomes more and more important.

Brothers and Sisters, passion is a powerful thing.

When we are passionate about something, sometimes we can be a little hardheaded. Can’t we?

Sometimes, when we care so much, we believe that our way, is the only way.

And when more than one person shares this degree of passion over a common goal, it is easy for disagreements, hard feelings, resentment, and negativity to become a factor.

Sometimes, we feel like we know better because of how long we have been in the church compared to someone who is newer to the church.

Regardless of whether it’s with like-minded people or new people to the church, scripture is clear regarding how we should get along in unity with one another.

Romans 14:1 says:

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

Titus 3:9:

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Church family, Paul says, make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind

Brothers and sisters, no matter what, we cant let anything come between us in our mission of extending God’s agenda.

We as a church family, must remain united and rooted in Christ.

We must practice selfless service.

Philippians 2:3-4 says:

2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

2:4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Take a second a think about something…

How would the world look, if this was the attitude of our neighborhoods, cities, states, countries, and world.

But you know something, this thought process is not how our world views, success, power, and strength.

Our world views humility as a sign of submission, a vice,

A humble or lowly man is often viewed as a weak person or coward.

And because of this train of thought, generations of people have ignored the teachings of Jesus’s humility on the cross, often times people see is selfless act of love.

Matthew 18:3-4 teaches us for a humble spirit is necessary for salvation.

But the problem is where the world thinks their strength comes from. For the believer knows that our strength is from God, and the world think’s our strength comes from our own doings.

See, when the believer receives their strength, God gives the believer a new and strong spirit that equips the believer to conquer the obstacles of what life throws in their way.

At no point does God want us to walk around prideful, or boastful. He wants the believer to be the definition of humble:

to offer himself in a spirit of submissiveness and lowliness; not to act high-minded, proud, haughty, arrogant, or assertive.

But church family, Humility is not something that is received and you always have it, it’s something that must be developed and worked on and practiced, and to do so, we often have to be willing to come out of our comfort zone.

Brothers and Sisters, take our Love Feast for example, Some of the most cherished memories I have with my church family, happened around a love feast table.

My memories take me back to people I sat with at the love feast table, to brothers who’s feet I washed, and who washed my feet in return,

But sadly, enough there are far less people at this service than our Sunday morning worship service.

If you have never attended our Love Feast Service, don’t be too hard on yourself, it took me years to step out of my comfort zone open myself up to the variability of not so much serving my Brothers in the act of foot washing, but rather allowing my Brothers in Christ to serve me.

Church Family, This act of foot washing is one small way, you can step out of your comfort zone and start developing the humble, servant attituded that Christ calls us to share in.

1st Peter 5:6 tells us:

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time”

When we humble ourselves, what we are actually doing is pattering our attitude after Christ.

Brothers and sisters, all we have to do is look around when we drive, as we drive through our cities and towns, and we will not help be see the need right here in our communities.

Every believer is needed to reach the lost and lonely,

the shut-ins and helpless,

the hungry and cold,

and the sinful and doomed of their community and city, country and world.

Every believer does not need to be thinking on his own things, but on the things of others.

The believer needs to be out …

visiting

ministering

helping

sharing

feeding

clothing

transporting

listening

and Loving.

If you were to ask me what my favorite scripture in the Bible is, I have 2 or 3, and one of those is Matthew Chapter 25:31-46

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35 For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink,

43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Church family, our relationships with our neighbor, not just the ones across the streat, and not just the ones sitting next to you in a the church pew, should reflect the love and humility of Christ Jesus.

Verses 5-8:

2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.

2:7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross!

I know some of the hymns that we have looked at over the past few weeks had really good back stories.

The hymn we looked at last week, Jesus Paid it All, written during a long prayer and a musical arraignment by the church organist,

The week before, because He Lives, inspired by the birth of a child, and He lives inspired because of a pastor’s lack of caring about the resurrection.

Some may think the inspiration behind today’s hymn is by comparison boring, to that I disagree.

The Old Rugged Cross was written by George Bennard.

George was born into a modest family in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1873.

His father died when he was a teenager and because of this he had to assume family responsibilities at an early age, so he became a coal miner like his father.

Later in life, he and his wife worked with the Salvation Army and George served for several years as a Method preacher, and like most believers and pastors, like I just shared with you,  George had a favorite scripture.

 Georges favorite scripture was, John 3:16.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

When asked why that was his favorite scripture, George replied that when he thought of that verse, he seemed to always have a vision of a cross — a crude Roman instrument of death. It was stained with the blood of Christ, who gave his life in order that we might become Christians.

It was on one occasion, as he was thinking of Christ’s crucifixion, when this melody ran through his mind, “I’ll cherish the old rugged cross.”

After a short amount of time, he finished the song and at his kitchen table he unveiled his Newley written song to his wife who fell in love with it and praised him for writing it,

George said “I really didn’t write it. I was merely the instrument God used.”

I know how George felt.

When people tell me on Sunday morning’s that they like my suite or necktie, I always tell them, give praise to Teresa for what I wear and give praise to the Lord for the sermon, all I do is show up.

Recently, I received a small promotion at work, I was made a crew chief of the HVAC department for Loudoun Schools where I work.

I know one thing that would always drive me crazy was a supervisor or crew chief that forgot that they too were once technicians, and didn’t want to associate with the guys, or worse yet felt they were above or better than the guys they were over.  

This is what makes our Lord so marvelous.

Paul tells us that Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.

2:7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

He made himself nothing

2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross!

2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

2:11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father.

God rewarded Jesus by exalting Him.

Christ humbled Himself in obedience to God,

Jesus was faithful in being humble,

God rewarded Him by exalting Him to the Highest standard.

It would serve us well not to miss this point…

God will reward and exalt any believer who will walk as Christ walked—humbly before Him and their neighbor

Take a minute and note how highly God has rewarded and exalted Christ.

God has given Christ a name above every name.

But here is a harsh reality.

Right now, the name of Jesus Christ is cursed all over the world.

In fact, throughout the course of a day, the name of Jesus Christ is being cursed thousands of times by millions of people all over the world.

But for the believer, Jesus’s name is the most glorious name every uttered by human voice, for His name is …

the name that forgives our sins.

 the name that gives us access into God’s presence.

And one day, church family, everyone will see Christ in all of His glory when he returns, and generations of people will see the error of their ways.

God has given Christ supreme power and authority.

God has destined every knee to bow before Christ—

the knees of everything in heaven and earth and under the earth. Nothing shall be exempt.

The day is coming when every creature in all the worlds and dimensions of being shall bow their knees in subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is exactly who He claimed to be: the Son of the living God. Every creature is going to worship Him as Lord, the Lord God of the universe.

“Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing” (Re. 5:12).

Church family, as we wind to a close this morning, let’s take the words of the beloved hymn, the old rugged cross,

And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

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.

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.

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.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true.

Its shame and reproach gladly bear.

Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,

Where His glory forever I’ll share.

And let it lead us to live a life of humility and servitude as Christ Jesus did for us on the cross.

Amen.

Benediction:

Let us leave here today, clinging tightly to the old rugged cross,

Modeling our lives with humility and serving others by taking a lower posision while lifting others up.

Let us never forget the work on the cross, and how God’s love in the form of His Son was given for us.

Amen.