On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross, where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.

The Old Rugged Cross is one of the best-known hymns of the Church. This week we remember that cross and our Savior who bled and died for you and me. I always ask my children, does it say the emblem of prosperity and success? No, it’s a cross. Then I tell them to the degree you understand the pain and can appreciate the cross, is the degree to which you can really appreciate the victory He won for us. It cost Jesus His life to die in our place. It was a terrible, awful death of pain and suffering and humiliation.

My favorite movie is one that depicts the life of Jesus like The Passion, movies depicting His suffering.The Bible tells us in Philippians 3:10 “…that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” we are privileged when we suffer for His name’s sake and partake in the fellowship of His suffering. Is it odd that I say this? Well, after 35years now of walking with my Savior, there have been many trials and tribulations. Have they driven me away from Jesus? No, they have drawn me nearer to Him because I can understand the fellowship of His suffering.

As we remember the resurrection this week when he overcame death and the grave, I pray you get aside and remember and meditate on the chapters of Scripture that talk about His passion and death(Luke 22-24). Ask His Holy Spirit to speak to you anew about what it cost Him to die for you, and the resurrection will have even greater meaning for you. May God bless you with a special weekend remembering His love for you.