A Hill Far Away
By Bill Shepard
Millions know the line by heart; it is taken from one of the best known gospel hymns of all times. It is hard to sing without emotions stirring within. Surely the songwriter was inspired of God when he wrote,” 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 best, for a world of lost sinners was slain.”
Luke, the Physician, and gospel writer, wrote the following lines: “And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” Luke 23:33
Matthew, Mark and John, the other gospel writers, refer to the place as “the skull” because it is shaped like a human skull. Mark writes: “And they bring him (Jesus) unto the place Golgatha, which is being interpreted, the place of a skull.” Mark 15: 22.
The word, Golgatha, is a Hebrew word that means, “Skull” because it had the resemblance of a human skull. Luke seems to prefer the word, Calvary, a Latin word, to describe the place of Crucifixion. Is there any significance to the difference in words used? It is doubtful! The fact of it happening is what is important, and the songwriter’s line is most appealing—“On a hill far away!”
Abraham and his son Isaac, if they could speak, would no doubt add great significance to the place of which I write for some say that it was at the very place that Abraham went to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord.
Moriah is the name given to a range of mountains that included Mt. Zion, Mt. Olives, Mt. Calvary, Golgatha and others; Mt. Calvary being the highest peak of them all. In the case of Abraham and Isaac, all we know is that God said to Abraham: “Take now thy son , thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I tell thee of.” Genesis 22:2.
Isaac, being a type of Christ, in the Old Testament, is believed to have been brought to the Mt. Calvary, where the scenario was played out. Bible readers know how that scene unfolded, it is a beautiful story that merits being read over and over. It sets forth in a meaningful and touching way, the “shadow” of the crucifixion of our Lord in the ages to come.
The promise of a coming Messiah lingered for thousands of years, after first being made in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it will bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” It was this promise that men through the ages looked for, and longed for, and died not having seen it.
Micah 5:2 – “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose going forth have been of old, from everlasting.”
The “hill far away” as foreshadowed in the events that took place through the long ages that passed. It was played out in the types and shadows that appeared in Old Testament writing, but it was left to Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, to bring it to fruition.
Hebrews 10:1 – “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers there unto perfect.”
The blood sacrifices of animals could ever atone for the sins of mankind, and those offered were only shadows of the One to come. Hebrews 9:12 – “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” So it was, the burnt offerings, meat offerings, peace offerings, trespass offerings, sin offerings of all kind were all wrapped up into one offering that was raised on that “hill far away!”
“And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew, Golgatha: where they crucified him and two others with him, one either side one, and Jesus in the midst.” John 19:17 – Thus the long awaited promise was fulfilled; the price for the sins of mankind had been paid. The atoning blood of Jesus ran down his pierced side, the “foundation of redemption” promised by the Prophet Zechariah long ago had come to pass: “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleaness.” Zechariah 13:1 “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” John 19:34. So the songwriter had it right! Millions continue to sing his words and many still come to the fountain that still flows, from the hilltop far away!
“On the old rugged cross, stained with blood do divine, A wondrous beauty I see: For ‘twas on that old cross, Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me.”
On this Easter Sunday, church goers all over America will no doubt hear the story again, how Jesus died and buried and arose again. Because he lives, we will live also. On this Easter Sunday, our hope of seeing our loved ones will be renewed.
Yes, you’ve heard it, even sung it, but have you been there? Have you experienced its redeeming power? If not, do it now! The invitation is coming from “the hill far away!”
Mr. Shepard is a native of Darlington, S.C., and a current resident of Piedmont, S.C. His mailing address for letters is: Bill Shepard 324 Sunny Lane, Piedmont, S.C., 29673.