The Cross

The cross is not just a piece of jewelry that we wear around our neck, or a lawn ornament we put in front of the church. The cross is so much more than an ornament on the altar in front of the congregation. 

There is such rich meaning in the cross. To a follower of Christ, it represents salvation. It is a symbol of how Christ Jesus took our place, carrying our sin, so that we could live with him forever in glory.”I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who believes [in Me as Savior—whoever adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me—already] has eternal life [that is, now possesses it] (John 6:47). 

Our ways are definitely not God’s ways, and our thoughts are not even close to His thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). So it is difficult for us, as humans, to understand how and why God did it the way He did. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). 

It was impossible for humans not to sin, so Jesus came to be a sacrifice once and for all. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). “…we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10).

God robed Himself in flesh (1Timothy 3:16), and was born of a young woman who was a virgin at the time, and lived among us (Luke 1:26-35) Because Jesus was born of a woman, He was called the Son of man, and because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God, he was the Son of God. That is why you may hear that he was fully God, and fully man. 

He experienced everything that we do from the womb to the tomb. The Bible says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin”(Hebrews 4:15) and “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:10). 

Jesus came to fulfill prophecy, and to provide grace and mercy in place of the law. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

This is one of the reasons why I love the authenticity of the Bible. We could look back at the Old Testament teachings and prophecies and see them come to fruition in Christ Jesus. Most of the prophesy of Messiah is written Isaiah, and then the apostles give witness in the epistles of the New Testament.

So…what does the cross mean to you?