At the centre of the Christian message is the ‘cross’. The cross is now the ubiquitous symbol for Christianity. But has it ever struck you how weird this is? I mean, the cross was an instrument of torture and execution! In fact, it was probably one of the worst forms of execution ever invented, partly because it was also designed to shame its victims. In a way, if anything, the crucifix is a symbol of the depths of human depravity and cruelty. We uphold the cross as a symbol of course because of the sacrifice of Christ. But we should also recognise how radical a claim that is. We are saying that it was God in human form who was nailed to that cross. The infinitely great and transcendently good God came to us in Jesus and subjected himself to the worst of human cruelty. No wonder so many people either take offence at this idea or just ridicule it. But we should implore them to recognise what is profound here: the cross marks the spot where human evil and divine grace meet. That’s the point! On that cross God ‘absorbed’ the worst of all we could throw at him and returned forgiveness. To appreciate the message of the cross, each person must recognise that their own sins are represented in the supreme act of desecration and cruelty expressed in the crucifixion of Christ. When we own the offense committed on the cross, we will receive the grace which flows from it.
Thank God for his grace to you.
Read and memorise Philippians 2:5-11.
