The Glory of The Cross

 I recently counted references to the cross in the New Testament and counted 34. I believe the symbol of the Cross is the most taken for granted symbol in society. But what does it mean to you? Most of us have seen all sorts of people wearing crosses. Musicians, actors, athletes, ministers and others, but the majority of those don’t even know Christ, but yet wear the symbol. Maybe they wear the Cross for religious reasons, like a charm or even to be reminded of what Jesus Christ did for His own.

Life for me before the Cross was difficult and even more so in many ways, after the Cross. But before I go any further, what do I mean before the Cross? I won’t bore you all with the details of my testimony, nor do I believe it is necessary for me to go through all of the details of how I became a believer. Every believer had to have arrived at that point where they realized they were a depraved person; a sinner in need of a Savior as you were drawn by the Spirit of God. Someone who has also recognized what Jesus’ substitutionary death meant for them. That through Jesus and only Jesus can we have eternal life (John 14:6). Recognition of who we are, as sinners, recognition of who Jesus is. The Son of the living God, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and suffered and died for my sins and was raised again on the third day for my justification. None of this happens without the Cross. It is foolishness to most and as the Apostle Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Foolishness because most people don’t believe they are evil. Foolishness because most people don’t believe they are in need of a Savior. We tend to define God on our terms instead of by His Word. I guess this makes us feel better, so we say, “I’m not such a bad person” “I’ve never done ___________” or even “I’m not as bad as ___________” and so forth. Instead of coming to the Cross broken and repentant most try to water down its true meaning. But we can’t, God is who He is and nothing and no one can change that. The more I think about what Jesus did for me on the Cross, the more Glorious the Cross becomes to me. Every single day untold numbers of people are cast into an eternity without Christ. A chilling but very real fact. Those who reject Jesus will spend eternity separated from God. When I think of that, it’s hard to even imagine. Think about how evil our present world is; even with the Sovereignty of God permitting it within His will and purpose.

The Cross is glorious to me, because it lets me know how much of a wretch I am. What?!? Yes, that’s what I said, the Cross let’s me know how much of a wretch I am. That Jesus would take the full weight of the Father’s wrath of my sin that He would make a way for me to be reconciled to Him! What manner of love is this! The more I think of this, the more I weep tears of joy that Jesus would endure such a thing for me and the Father would send His only Son to make a way for me to Him! Love far beyond anything I could ever express. So my desire is to Glory in the Cross each and every day that Jesus may be glorified. Not that I can do it on my own but through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). My desire and prayer for my own life, is that my life will always point toward the Cross and the Glory of it.

Miguel