God Said, “I Love You,” With An Old Rugged Cross

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8

The overarching message in our text is: God wrote His love in red. When you look at the cross you are looking into the heart of God.  As Brother Craig Edwards wrote in his song, “God Said, ‘I Love You,’ With An Old Rugged Cross.”

People have all kinds ways of saying, “I love you.” Some say “I love you” with flowers… a note… a greeting card… a look with the eyes… a kiss… an embrace… a soft touch… whispering “sweet nothings” in the ear… a box of chocolates… a romantic dinner.

God didn’t just say, “I love you.”  He said “I love you,” with bruised flesh… bleeding wounds… excruciating pain… suffering abandonment… in bearing undeserved, vicious punishment.

God said, “I love you,” when He laid aside His glory to be made in the likeness of sinful flesh.

God said, “I love you,” with every drop of bloody sweat in the Garden as He prayed, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” 

God said, “I love you,” each time the chief priests spit in His lovely face.

God said, “I love you,” each time wicked men smote Him with their fists.

God said, “I love you,” with each stripe of the cat-of-nine tails tearing into the flesh on His back.

God said, “I love you,” when cruel soldiers crowned Him with thorns.

God said, “I love you,” as they beat on His head with a reed.

God said, “I love you,” with each step He took down the Via Delarosa to Mount Calvary.

God said, “I love you,” with every ringing of the hammer upon the nails in His hands and feet.

God said, “I love you,” with each drop of blood that fell from the wounds in His hands and feet.

God said, “I love you,” as Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

God said, “I love you,” when He who knew no sin, became sin for us.

God said, “I love you,” as Jesus suffered the eternal punishment of hell that you and I deserved.

Absolutely incredible! Amazing Love! “Greater love hath no man than this…”

God said, “I love you,” with an old rugged cross.  How will you tell God, “I love You, Lord?”