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The Old Rugged Cross is a beloved hymn that has been sung by Christians all over the world for over a century. It speaks of the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross and the hope that we have because of His death and resurrection. In this write-up, we will explore the meaning behind the lyrics of this hymn and the biblical references that inspired it. 

The first verse of the hymn goes like this:

"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." 

The first line of this verse refers to the hill of Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. The Bible records this event in Matthew 27:33-35, Mark 15:22-24, Luke 23:33-34, and John 19:17-18. The cross was a symbol of shame and humiliation, reserved for the worst criminals. Yet, it was on this cross that Jesus willingly laid down His life for the salvation of all humanity. As it says in 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." 

The second line of the verse speaks of the cross as an emblem of suffering and shame. Paul the Apostle wrote in Galatians 3:13, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.'" Jesus took upon Himself the punishment that was meant for us and bore the shame and suffering of the cross.

The third and fourth lines of the verse express the singer's love for the cross and the significance of Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus, who was both fully God and fully man, gave His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He died for the sins of the world so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life (John 3:16). 

The second verse of the hymn goes like this: 

"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." 

The first line of this verse speaks of the cross being despised by the world. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:18, "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." The world may see the cross as a symbol of weakness, but to believers, it represents the power of God and the hope of salvation. 

The second line of the verse expresses the singer's personal attraction to the cross. The cross is not just a historical event, but a present reality that we can cling to in times of trouble. As it says in Hebrews 4:16, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

...to be continued