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 bestFor a world of lost sinners was slain So I'll cherish the old rugged cross (rugged cross)Till my trophies at last I lay downI will cling to the old rugged cross And exchange it some day for a crown To the old rugged cross I will ever be trueIt'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 (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 I will cling to the old rugged cross And exchange it some day for a crown No scene in the entire history of human race over brings joy and tears to the soul like the image on Calvary Hill, the Cross.

The Cross of Christ must be either the darkest spot of all, in the mystery of existence or a searchlight by the help of which we may penetrate the surrounding darkness."He was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; And by His stripes we are healed". Isaiah 53:5.

In some strange and mystical way, Calvary is in the geography of the immeasurable and the crucifixion of Christ the express representation of the database or should I say, the calendar of eternity. Likewise, this, I have seen as a foremost predicament in the church we all want the resurrection, but most of us don't want the crucifixion.

It was John Knox that said "To remember Jesus is to remember first of all his Cross". The Cross is the only ladder high enough to touch Heaven's threshold. The Master has desired that all should be with Him above the bright blue sky. The cross is the only access provided by the council in Divinity for the rescue of the human soul.The truth is this, from the picture the prophet saw in (Isaiah 53), I would say, it's really wasn't easy but it was worth it. His Death to the Christian faithful is the funeral of all sorrows and evils, and the resurrection of all joys.The tragedy of sin and death was settled on the cross through pain and blood. No one can fathom the height of emancipation the totality of humanity has graced into, via the event of Calvary.

It was the misfortunes sin brought to humanity that moved the Father of all flesh to send His only begotten Son, for the atonement of our misdeeds. From the moment the first man, Adam broke the rules governing the Garden of Eden his descendants became victims of the consequences of that disobedience. The afflictions of mortal man originated from when our first ancestors disobeyed a divine instruction and banged a costly death sentence. Meanwhile, apart from the death penalty, so many other pains preceded the consequences of sin. Man originally was the god and controller of this planet, but he relinquished it to his age long adversary the devil, who interestingly was the one that lured man to disobey Divinity.
However, the purpose of this book is to unfold the historic event of the Cross of Christ on how it connects to our sins and the restoration of man's glory.

The Christian church is a society of past sinners who has been redeemed by the blood of His cross. It is the only society in the world where membership is based upon the singular qualification that the candidate shall be unworthy of membership. For this reason, the mystery of God's grace and mercy to man is what this old rugged Cross disclosed. Hopefully, I trust God that through the revelations in this book, you and I shall always carry in mind the cost of His Cross until we met Him face to face.
OBI OKAFOR