The
story of the cross
The
crucifixion of Jesus took place on a lonely hill outside the city, all
his friends and followers have fled. If someone at that time had suggested
that his death would be the one most remembered in human history, it
would have seemed completely absurd. (Gil Bailie).
Paul
says: "for the story of the Cross is foolishness to those who
are on the way to destruction, but it is the power of God to those who
are on the way to salvation" (1 Cor 1:18). And yet it is true.
Jesus' death is the most remembered death in human history. Why?
Mark
Danner tells a story that happened in Salvador in 1981. The Salvadorian
Army came to a village El Mozote and massacred 767 people - many of
them women and children. Among the victims there was a girl, an evangelical
Christian whom the soldiers could not get out of their minds. They tortured
her terribly during the course of the afternoon, but all during her
torture, she sung hymns. Even after she was shot in the chest, the singing
did not stop: the blood was flowing from her chest, and had kept on
singing - a bit weaker than before, but still singing. The soldiers,
stupefied, had watched. Then they had grown tired of the game and shot
her again, and still she sang, and their wonder began to turn to fear
- until finally they had unsheathed their machetes and hacked through
her neck, and at last the singing had stopped.
The
story of the cross is about the power of God.
Everyone
wants to have power and control over others. Power involves use of physical
strength, money, possession, prestige, advance technology and arms.
But the story of the cross changed everything. It speaks about weakness,
defeat, failures, and death. The Son of God died on the cross and there
was no one to save him from this tragedy and shame. As the book of Deuteronomy
has it: "He that is hanged on a tree is accursed of God"
(21:23). But what for us is seen as a weakness and shame, for God is
the material to show His power. The weakness of the Son of God gave
power to every Christian; the shame of the Son of God took away the
shame of sin in our lives; the death of the Son of God gives life to
everyone who believes in him. Now in Jesus Christ everyone who is weak
can become strong; everyone who is dead can live; everyone who did not
count in the eyes of others can become a child of God.
It
was just an ordinary day in her work: calls after calls with complaints
about the quality of work, or requests for re-scheduling payments. Then,
there was this call that cost her job. A man with an angry voice started:
"I am Mr. . . .; I am CEO of . . . Inc.; I am known by Mr. this
and Mrs. That, and I demand . . . ." She could not control herself
and said: "And I am Ms . . . - a daughter of God," and she
put the phone down.
I do
not know where you are now with your life. But no matter what the circumstances
of your life no matter how bad you feel about yourself no matter how
badly the people are treating you, the cross is the power of God. You
matter in the eyes of God and you are worth the death of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God. Therefore, there is no need for complaining or self-pity.
The basic truth in life is: those who are weak and lack wisdom yet put
all their hope and trust in God, in the end come out strong and wise,
and succeed in life; but those who think they are "somebody"
and do not rely on God, in the end are sure to fail. So realize that
you can do nothing without the power of God and put your trust in the
crucified Son of God.
The
story of the cross is about God's love.
In every heart there is fear of death and judgment. We do not want to
go to Sheol and disappear for ever; we are afraid of being judged at
the end of our lives, because we sense that our lives are not the example
of holiness. Deep in our hearts we know that it is impossible to redeem
ourselves, to cheat death and avoid the consequences of our wrong decisions.
It is beyond our power to escape the grip of death with its fear.
And
yet, in every heart there is also a longing for happiness. But it happens
that we are the ones destroying our happiness. Sin ruins our lives.
Sin brings fear of judgment. Sin leads to death. We are aware of this,
but we do not know how to be free from its power.
He
just killed the "beloved" goose of his grandfather. Raymond
was eight years old, spending vacation on the farm of his grandfather.
He did not want to do that. He was just playing with the geese. He buried
it and hoped that no one saw him. Unfortunately, his older sister saw
it. He pleaded with her not to tell this to their grandfather. She agreed
under the condition that he will do whatever she will tell him. For
a week, she made his life miserable: he had to wash dishes, clean the
house, go for shopping, while she was playing with her friends. Eventually,
he could not stand it anymore. So, he went to his grandfather, and with
tears told him what happened. His grandfather took him in his arms and
told him: "I know that you did not want to do it. I saw everything."
"Then, why did you not say anything?" - the boy asked. "I
wanted to see how long you will stand your sister to ruin your vacation."
How
long will you allow sin to ruin your life? Put your faith in God's love
towards you. The Son of God came to set you free. Sin is defeated by
the sacrifice of His life. God sent his only Son so that you can have
life through him. There is no more condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus and He is the sacrifice who takes our sins away.
The
story of the cross is about love, the love of God for each one of us.
It speaks about God who is with us in our joys, but also in our sufferings
and sorrows. It speaks about God who gives us courage to face all sorts
of trials. It speaks about God who empowers us not to be afraid of anything
and anyone. The Christian girl was able to give witness to her faith,
while being tortured, because the crucified Son of God was with her.
And this is the wonderful truth of Christianity:
The
Son of God has died for us, so we can live and give witness to the transforming
power of his death for us.