A Southern Gospel group, The Guardians, have a song about that tree. The lyrics in part are: "He grew the tree, that He knew would be, used to make the old rugged cross....He grew the tree, so that we might go free." Another intriguing angle.
Thanks for this, Phil. One of the images that I’ve been reflecting on of late is how the cross signifies the humiliation and exaltation of Christ. Often we read the Christ hymn (Phil 2) and imagine Christ’s exaltation as a reward for his humiliation. In fact the cross is a terribly beautiful place where the paradox of humiliation and exaltation meet. Jesus is lifted up (read exalted) on the cross to suffer his greatest humiliation and it is through this suffering that the exaltation of humanity to renewed relationship with God is accomplished. Each requires the other and happens at the same time.
Beautiful thank you.
A Southern Gospel group, The Guardians, have a song about that tree. The lyrics in part are: "He grew the tree, that He knew would be, used to make the old rugged cross....He grew the tree, so that we might go free." Another intriguing angle.
There's an 8th c Anglo Saxon poem, The Dream of the Rood, on this subject as well. It is good to reflect on this today. Thank you.
I look forward to checking that out. Thanks for pointing it out, David!
Thanks for this, Phil. One of the images that I’ve been reflecting on of late is how the cross signifies the humiliation and exaltation of Christ. Often we read the Christ hymn (Phil 2) and imagine Christ’s exaltation as a reward for his humiliation. In fact the cross is a terribly beautiful place where the paradox of humiliation and exaltation meet. Jesus is lifted up (read exalted) on the cross to suffer his greatest humiliation and it is through this suffering that the exaltation of humanity to renewed relationship with God is accomplished. Each requires the other and happens at the same time.