As we all know, the universal symbol for Easter is the cross. While we can look at the cross in a negative way because of the intense suffering that Jesus endured, it is also a beautiful thing as it represents new life. The empty cross is the sign of salvation, as Jesus suffered and died on it for us.
Many of us grew up in church singing the old hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross.” One of the lines in this hymn reads,
“In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see . . .”
What a contrast. Usually when when something is stained with blood it is accompanied by pain and sorrow. It’s not seen as a wondrous beauty. What an amazing thing that our God can take something so dark and so painful, and turn it into a wondrous beauty. What a great reminder that even in our darkest and most lonely times, God can make our lives a “woundrous beauty.” If only we trust our Father as Jesus did.
Mennonite Central Committee shared an article about how the Mennonite Church in Santa Cruz, Bolivia celebrates Easter. In this article is a link where you can listen to a Bolivian woman sing a Spanish version of “The Old Rugged Cross.” One thing that I see as beautiful, is the fact that we can worship the same God together even when we aren’t doing it in the same language. Click on the link below to read the story and to listen to the beautiful song sung by Shirley Barron.
That was my favorite hymn when I was younger!