The Old Rugged Cross: A Hymn of Suffering, Glory, and the Unshakable Hope of the Gospel

Season 1 Finale | The Bright Forever Podcast
By Andy Peavyhouse

“I will cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down.”

As we close out our first season of The Bright Forever, there’s no better way to end than by reflecting on one of the most beloved and enduring hymns of the Christian faith: “The Old Rugged Cross” by George Bennard.

This hymn isn’t just a piece of music—it’s a declaration of hope, a picture of grace, and a confrontation with the suffering and shame that Jesus bore on our behalf. In this final episode of Season One, I had the great joy of sitting down with someone very special to me: my mother, Janet Peavyhouse, to talk about the hymn, its history, and the deep personal meaning it holds for our family.

The Story Behind the Song

George Bennard was a man acquainted with hardship. Born in 1873 in Youngstown, Ohio, he lost his father in his youth and had to work in the coal mines to support his family. Despite this, music and ministry remained central to his calling.

While serving as an itinerant evangelist in Albion, Michigan, in 1912, Bennard found himself contemplating the cross in a profound way. He struggled to find the right words—but one line kept returning to him:
“I’ll cherish the old rugged cross.”

The hymn came together slowly over time, eventually shaped into the powerful song we know today—a favorite during the Billy Sunday revivals and now a staple in Easter services and personal worship alike.

A Conversation with My Mom

In this special episode, my mom shared the story of her own salvation—how she first responded to the gospel as a young girl on Easter Sunday—and why “The Old Rugged Cross” still brings her to tears.

She spoke about:

• The power of shame, and how the hymn reminds us that Christ bore not only our sin, but our deepest guilt.

• The humiliation of the cross, and how little we understand the depth of suffering Jesus endured.

• Her memories of Easter mornings in the 1950s, when the front page of the Tampa Tribune proclaimed “He Is Risen”—a symbol of a culture once more aligned with the hope of resurrection.

Together, we reflected on each verse:

• The emblem of suffering and shame that now becomes a symbol of beauty and transformation.

• The despised cross that holds an irresistible attraction because it represents the only way to true salvation.

• The divine blood that purchased both our pardon and our sanctification.

• The promise of future glory, where we will forever share in Christ’s victory.

“The man on the middle cross said I could come.” —Alistair Begg

In a spontaneous and slightly chaotic moment, I recorded my family singing the hymn around the table after Easter lunch. No rehearsals, no microphones—just honest voices lifted up in love for a Savior who gave it all. It wasn’t perfect, but it was beautiful.

🙏 Do You Cherish the Cross?

As I said in the episode’s closing, this hymn leaves us with a vital question:
Do you cherish the cross?

Not just admire it. Not just sing about it. But truly cherish it?
Do you see the cross not just as a symbol of suffering—but as the doorway to your forgiveness, your growth in holiness, and your eternal hope?

You could never earn salvation. You could never do enough.
But Jesus did. He bore it all—past, present, and future.
All He asks is that you follow Him… carrying your own cross, daily.

🎧 Listen to the Full Episode

Catch the full episode of The Bright Forever through the link at the bottom of this page or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hear the history, the music, the reflections, and my mom’s incredible testimony.

We want to hear from you. Has The Old Rugged Cross impacted your life or family? Do you have a hymn story of your own? Share it with us at
📧 podcast@thebrightforever.com