GHS 64 : The Old Rugged Cross Lyrics
GHS 64, “The Old Rugged Cross,” is one of the most famous and widely sung hymns in the history of Christianity. Written by George Bennard in 1913 after a period of personal reflection on the centrality of the cross to Christian faith and life, the hymn begins with a vision of a particular cross on a hill and ends with a vow of lifelong loyalty to it and a hope of exchanging it one day for a crown. The cross the hymn describes is not admired from a distance; it is something the singer will cling to and cherish until the very end, gladly bearing its shame and reproach because of what and who was given there.
This hymn appears as number 64 in the Gospel Hymns and Songs (GHS) collection, used in Deeper Life Bible Church and related assemblies across West Africa, and it remains one of the most deeply loved hymns in the entire collection.
Hymn Lyrics – GHS 64: The Old Rugged Cross
- 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.
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.
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O, 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.
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In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, A wondrous beauty I see; For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, To pardon and sanctify me.
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To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, Its shame and reproach gladly bear; Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, Where His glory forever I’ll share.
