Why
the Cross?
You would have no power over me if it
were not given to you from above.
John 19:11
“Crucify him! Crucify him!” Over
and over they petitioned Pilate, forcing his hand. Seeing their
frenzied state, Pilate realized that to deny them would be to invite
rebellion. With his safety in question, Pilate granted their pleas,
vainly washing his hands of any guilt.
Soldiers mocked this reticent King. In
shame, with a form of torture reserved for the lowest of Roman
prisoners, they beat him, clothed him in the linen of royalty, and
jammed a crown of thorns onto his head. Jesus spoke not a word, given
completely to this selfless act of love.
Having stripped him of his dignity,
they marched him through the streets of Jerusalem, to Golgotha, a
crossbeam of impending death digging into his shoulders. There, they
nailed his wrists to the beam, and hoisted him atop the vertical
post.
When he broke his silence it was to ask
his Father where he’d gone. Yet, no answer was forthcoming. Then,
with his work complete, Jesus spoke into our lives, “It is
finished.” In that moment, in an act of love we can’t
comprehend, one for which we should be forever grateful, Jesus
submitted his Spirit to the Father, and the curtain in the temple was
torn in two! From top to bottom it tore, making a way for us to
approach the Father!
Forty-three days later, having arisen
from the grave, He ascended to the Father, and continues to speak on
our behalf!
†
The cross of Christ is the door through
which salvation comes. And though you may not understand, you and I
were present that day two-thousand years ago. Not in person, but in
our iniquity. We had a hand in crucifying the Holy Lamb of God.
The great wonder of God’s grace is
that the submission of Jesus, the selfless love that put Him on that
cross, also pursues us with its power. It represents the price of our
eternal freedom. If you haven’t yet done so, would you allow that
power to set you free today?
Prayer
“Thank You, Lord Jesus,
for submitting to the cross. Thank You Father God for sending Your
Son as the propitiation of my sin. Amen.”
No comments:
Post a Comment