Christ on the Cross
Posted by James MacDonald on March 4, 2008 12:05 PM | Comments (9)Hey, let's do the greatest thing we can do as Christ followers. Yeah, let's do it together as we approach another Easter. It's just a couple of weeks away, so let's do it . . . let's focus on the cross!
The cross of Jesus Christ is the signature symbol of the central event in the history of civilization. Not until the second century was the cross welcomed as the central symbol of Christianity. The emperor Constantine saw it in a vision and banned it as an instrument of execution. In fact, the cross was never thought of as anything but a hideous instrument of death until everyone who had actually seen a crucifixion had died off. Only then did people represent the cross as something sacred in sculpture, paintings, and other artistic forms.
Today, we depict the cross as common. Jewelers pound it into all sorts of finery so we can staple it to our ears and wear it around our necks. Merchandisers manufacture this symbol of unlimited atonement into fuzzy things for my rearview mirror or stand-ups for my garden. From teacups to t-shirts, the cross has cornered the market on crassness. Department stores hawk chocolate-covered ones for "holy week." Baseball players and businessmen cross themselves before a big moment. The cross itself has become big business. But it was never intended to be some lucky trinket. This is profanity in the truest sense. Is it any wonder we have lost the wonder of what happened on Calvary?
The resurrection of Christ was the event that accomplished salvation and verified Christ's victory over death but it was the cross of Jesus Christ that showed us the grace of God. Everything that God wants us to know about Himself comes together in those crossbeams.
Our entire purpose in life is to elevate the cross. Think on Him there. In your mind's eye, picture Jesus stretched out against the sky.
What's He doing up there?
In upcoming blogs we will now explore the biblical and experiential answers to that question. We'll focus our attention on the gospel of Matthew to discover four answers to that question: What's Jesus Doing Up on the Cross?
Comments
Posted by: shawn | March 5, 2008 10:17 AM
a few years ago when God called me back to Himself, i thought that the cross was significant but that the empty tomb should have been our focus. as i have been growing in Him i see now more than ever that the cross is the most important symbol for us as Christians in all eternity. there will never be anything more significant than what Jesus did for us on that cross. now for the rest of the world to see what we see... that's our mission. God bless and keep us strong.
Posted by: don | March 5, 2008 01:07 PM
There is no doubt that there is beauty in the cross. Yet, its beauty is in contrast to the shame, the horror, the depravity of our humaness, the rebellion, the unbelief, the hatred toward God and toward one another, and the nails being pounded into His flesh. Not only that but the event leading up to the cross, which indeed are still part of the cross: the lies against Him, the betrayl, the religious hypocrisy, being called a devil, His sinlessness, in the garden, His own disciples leaving Him..
Posted by: don (cont.) | March 5, 2008 01:29 PM
The cross is about....
It is about being rejected by men but loved by God.
It is about a picture of obedience
It is about Jesus who new not sin to be made sin for us.
It is about the wrath of God
It is about God revealing the Son.
It is about the depth, the width, and the height of Christ's love for us.
It is about defeating the works of the devil.
It is about conquering sin and death.
It is about Jesus being our high priest and our sacrifice.
It is about the incarnation
It is about..
Posted by: don | March 5, 2008 01:42 PM
What is He doing up there?...
It's about Your need for Him
It's about my need for Him
It's about the death of a mother's child.
It's about our King
It's about our Messiah
It's about a Servant
It's about setting free prisoners.
It's about healing the sick
It's about raising us from the dead.
It's about God not counting our sins against us.
It's about the object of our worship.
It's the reason we forgive others...
It's about...
James! I am running out of breath...It's about....
Posted by: don | March 5, 2008 01:50 PM
Pastor James,
Come on! Easter is coming up, can't you give us at least 200 extra character spaces to talk about the cross? :(
Pllleeeeaaassseee! :)
John wrote: There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
..Certainly this could also be said about the Cross event.
Posted by: Kenneth Gregory | March 5, 2008 04:03 PM
As I am reading this blog, I am reminded of a song that God gave to me a few years ago, that says:
"There on the cross, our Lord and Savior Jesus. Had paid the price to set the captive free. His very life there on the cross was given. So now we celebrate because our Saviour lives."
As Christians, we should always celebrate Christ's victory over death, without forgetting the cost, the price, the pain and the sacrifice. On the cross Jesus paid with His life, and it wasn't all pretty and cute.
Posted by: susan | March 6, 2008 07:10 AM
I absolutely love your teaching , your instruction is very easy to follow. The most awesome part of your teachings to me is that you go directly through the scripture and walk us through. I read that passage in Acts and had never gotten that understanding until you broke it down. Thank You.
Posted by: Ike | March 16, 2008 10:30 PM
Most preachers talk about the physical suffering of the cross. Now I'm not minimizing that, but listen folks, it wasn't the nails, the crown of thorns, or the spear that saves us. Have you ever read that it pleased the Lord to crush His Son!
Jesus did not cower because of the nails, etc. What was in that cup? The holy just hatred of His Father was in that cup! And the Son, whom the Father loves more than all of us put together, was crushed by His Father!
Once you are "captured" by this truth,
Posted by: Ike | March 17, 2008 09:06 AM
A very well known TV preacher has said,"when you look at the cross you should see how valuable you are to God"?? NO, we should see exactly what we are outside of Christ! Totally depraved, God hating, sin loving creatures! Once you are captured by the truth of the cross, you will never be the same! The rough tough fisherman Peter called the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ "precious"!!! Don was correct when he said there are not enough words to express the meaning of the cross!!