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Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5
The Cross is a great contradiction. Once the cruelest form of execution, yet now it is a symbol of abundant life. The Cross means many things to many people. Some have it displayed on their mantel, others wear it around their neck. What is... it about the Cross?
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5
The Cross is a great contradiction. Once the cruelest form of execution, yet now it is a symbol of abundant life. The Cross means many things to many people. Some have it displayed on their mantel, others wear it around their neck. What is... it about the Cross?
The Cross means love.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). He died for people who had lost their way. He did not die because it was forced upon him. It was a choice. A choice made in love.
Jesus still loves sinners. He came and gave his life for them. The message of the Cross remains a gift of love to those undeserving.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). He died for people who had lost their way. He did not die because it was forced upon him. It was a choice. A choice made in love.
Jesus still loves sinners. He came and gave his life for them. The message of the Cross remains a gift of love to those undeserving.
The Cross is personal.
I want to know Christ... I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death (Philippians 3:10). Christianity is the only faith where God has reached down to us. Our response to such a God is to know him personally. Jesus died so that he could know you. It was personal.
The Cross is willful humility.
Christ’s death was an act of his will. In Philippians 2:7-8, Paul states that Jesus humbled himself in obedience and died a criminal's death on the Cross. Sometimes we mistakenly think that he made that decision as God. Jesus came to the conclusion to die for humanity as a human. He willed his flesh, mind, and emotions to die on the Cross.
Christ hung on the cross on purpose. He could choose to live as he pleased, but he chose to give his life for our sake. Galatians 2:20 says that we have been crucified with Christ – past tense. As Christians, we are to be dead to our will, as Christ was. Our life’s prayer should be, “Not my will, Yours be done.” And just like Jesus, it is our responsibility to act on our prayer. Being in the will of God is not a passive thing. It is an act of the will.
I want to know Christ... I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death (Philippians 3:10). Christianity is the only faith where God has reached down to us. Our response to such a God is to know him personally. Jesus died so that he could know you. It was personal.
The Cross is willful humility.
Christ’s death was an act of his will. In Philippians 2:7-8, Paul states that Jesus humbled himself in obedience and died a criminal's death on the Cross. Sometimes we mistakenly think that he made that decision as God. Jesus came to the conclusion to die for humanity as a human. He willed his flesh, mind, and emotions to die on the Cross.
Christ hung on the cross on purpose. He could choose to live as he pleased, but he chose to give his life for our sake. Galatians 2:20 says that we have been crucified with Christ – past tense. As Christians, we are to be dead to our will, as Christ was. Our life’s prayer should be, “Not my will, Yours be done.” And just like Jesus, it is our responsibility to act on our prayer. Being in the will of God is not a passive thing. It is an act of the will.
The Cross is prophetic.
There are many prophecies of the Cross in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. From the beginning of time, God planned to rescue humanity from the clutches of evil...
He was disfigured, tormented, completely abused. But not only was his punishment prophesied, so was our atonement. Pierced for sin. Beaten for wholeness. Whipped for healing. A divine exchange. Blessings for curses, completeness for brokenness, unrighteousness for holiness. Redemption was prophesied.
The Cross is final.
And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become God’s kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10, NLT)
And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become God’s kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10, NLT)
So many [people] gaze at the Cross and yet hold on to past hurt, pain, and problems. They don’t belong on your back any longer – Jesus has taken them on his. The debt is paid. Look to the Cross and receive your salvation.
Prayer:
Father, Redeemer, Lamb of God,
You are worthy. Thank You for the Cross, Lord. Help us to see it for all it is worth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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