Art Cards, Lent 3, "The Old Rugged Cross"

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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 Old Rugged Cross,” verse 2)

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Scripture Connection: 1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-24

The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 

Art Card Prompt:

By the standards of the world, the crucifixion looks like the defeat of Jesus. Yet to Christians, it is a moment of Christ’s victory over sin and death. This is why Paul writes that the cross is considered “foolishness” to non- believers but “salvation” to believers. The cross is at the heart of the gospel, the good news, that we proclaim as Christians.

The second verse of this classic hymn portrays that same contradiction. The cross is “despised” by the world but is a “wondrous attraction” for faithful Christians. Although Jesus bears all the divinity of God, he still dies a human death on Calvary out of love for the world. As you create your art card, reflect on these paradoxical tensions of the cross, which is a moment of death for Jesus and yet a gateway to eternal life for believers. How is the cross “old and rugged” and yet beautiful? You could also add a lamb for Jesus the “Lamb of God.”