The cross, what does it mean? Is it simply a piece of jewelry that we hang around our necks, put on our fingers? This is what our culture tells us it is, it has lost all of it's meaning and we have become desensitized to it. The crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ is the most important event in all of human history. Crucifixion is the single most grotesque, horrific, and disgraceful way of execution Deuteronomy 21:22-23, this is where we get the word excruciating which literally means the cross. After Jesus' trial the bible said they had him scourged, something so painful that most men died just from being scourged.
Jesus' hands where tied above his head to expose his back and legs to the executioners whip. The whip was made up of metal balls, metal hooks and sharp bones to torture the body of Jesus. Jesus was beat so bad the the bible said he was not even recognized by any man Isaiah 52:14. He then carried his own cross to his death. Since lumber was so expensive back then Jesus would have carried a cross that many men had already died upon. The cross would have been covered in those other men's blood sweat and tears. He was then laid on the cross where 5 to 8 inch nails were driven into his hands and feet; nails that as a carpenter Jesus had driven himself to build many things. He was then lifted up to be mock, cursed at, and spit on. Years later Jesus disciple Peter was to be crucified and he requested to be hung upside down because he said he was not worthy enough to die like Jesus. That is amazing to me, as horrible and disgraceful as the crucifixion was Peter says " I am not worthy to die like my Savior, so hang me upside down!"
I spoke recently on the topic of the cross and as I studied more many emotions flooded my heart and mind. I was so grateful, I was saddened, and I was sickened. I called my wife one of the days that I was really in deep study about the cross and I told her that I did not even feel worthy to even speak of the cross. So where do we go from here? In our culture it is so easy to simple forget and become numb. The bible calls us to remember; that's why we take communion, to remember the cross and what was sacrificed. We deserve death and that is something we should rightfully get, but instead we get Christ who says no I love them, I will intercede and take the wrath of God for their sins on me. So in our culture how do we remember? Well, I think we actively pray that God would make us remember, that we would be studiers of his word, and that we would surround ourselves with the things that stir our affections for Him.
Lord, forgive us for forgetting so easily, help us to remember. Thank you for sending your son to sacrifice on our behalf, we long to love you so much more then we do so help us Lord. Amen.
Hallelujah God is Here!
Stan
A great book on the cross is Death by Love by Mark Driscoll.
