For All of Us

Growing up, my family had an Easter tradition.  We would get up really, really early and make the drive to Meramec Caverns to watch their live Passion play and listen to the Lester’s sing gospel music.  My Grammy loved the Lesters and we really loved my Grammy, so we’d meet at the cave entrance early on Easter morning and we’d file into whatever rows that the earliest family member had been reserving until we all arrived.  

The lights would go dark inside the cool, damp of the cave and the Lesters would begin to sing.  I don’t remember if The Old Rugged Cross was the first song, but I remember that it came early in the program and was one of my Grammy’s favorites.  Because it was one of her favorites, it became one of my favorites, too.

Almost like muscle memory, the melody and the lyrics to this beautiful old hymn start to reverberate in my heart and mind as Resurrection Sunday approaches.

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

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 some day for a crown

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true
It's shame and reproach gladly bear
Then he'll call me some day to my home far away
Where his glory forever I'll share

And I'll cherish the old rugged cross 
Till my trophies at last I lay down
And I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
~Old Rugged Cross by George Bennard

After those words were sung, we’d watch as the actors went through the final week of Jesus’ life.  We’d see his betrayal, his prayer for God’s will to be done, his silence as he allowed himself to be mocked and beaten, his mercy to the sinners, his love for humanity, and finally his eternity changing death.  

To be honest, I never could bring myself to watch.

I know it was only an actor portraying a scene, but my heart ached knowing this wasn’t just some story.  

This was truth.  

This was history.  

This was for me.

This was for all of us.

That old rugged cross really is an emblem of suffering and shame.  It was the most disgraceful, painful way to be executed and it was reserved for the worst of the worst.  But the dearest and best, the King of King and Lord of Lords, chose to take the sin of the world on his innocent shoulders.  As a sacrificial act of love, he allowed himself to be brutally slain.  

That old rugged cross points to death, but it also points to resurrection.

Another hymn, called Only Needed It For the Weekend rang out through that musty cave every Easter morning.

 
Imagine Mary in Bethlehem, no place to stay In that crowed inn
She sure could use some rest for her weary head, and she said...

I'll only need it for the weekend, I won't be there long.
I'll only need it for the weekend, cause I'll be up and I'll be gone.
Yes, I'll be up and I'll be gone.

A man named Joseph gave Jesus his tomb
He cared so much for Him, it was the least he could do.
Now he could have given Him so many other things,
but this is what Joseph said....

He'll only need it for the weekend, He won't be there long.
He'll only need it for the weekend,
cause He'll be up and I'll be gone.
Yes He'll be up and He'll be gone.

Jesus needed that tomb for just one weekend
He didn't stay there long
He only needed it for the weekend
Now He sits high upon His throne.

He's coming back to claim His own.
Soon we'll be up, and we'll be gone.

            ~ Only Needed It For The Weekend by the Lesters

Jesus only needed that tomb for the weekend.  Having defeated sin, Hell, and death, Jesus rose!  Through his sacrificial love, he offers salvation and a transformative now-and-forever relationship to any who choose to accept it.

I’ve never been able to watch the crucifixion scene, nor have I ever able to hold back tears during the resurrection scene.

I knew this wasn’t just some actor portraying a scene, and my heart rejoiced knowing this wasn’t just some story.  

This was truth.  

This was history.  

This was for me.

This was for all of us.

As we move through this week, think about those things.  The story that many of us will hear this Resurrection Sunday or read in scripture or watch in a passion play isn’t just a story.  

It is our hope.

It is our promise.

It is for me. 

It is for all of us.