The Cross of Christ

Good morning. Back in the day, as in Saturday, I wrote about the stripes of Jesus healing us. Today, what did we receive from that bit of dead tree near Gethsemane? The early Christians used the sign of the fish to represent their faith. A cross would have reminded them of executions, sort of like using a little silver electric chair as a piece of jewelry or signing our letters with the little drawing of a guillotine. The latest method is lethal injection, but I'm not sure how we would make a symbol of that. The Romans executed many people on the cross. Why did this one particular cross become a symbol? What happened to the wood of that cross? People tell some stout legends about the spear that pierced Jesus or the cup he drank from in the first communion service. You have no doubt heard some story about the Spear of Destiny or the Holy Grail. Imagine the nuttiness that would take place if the original cross were found in a cave with some letters from Mary or John. The Romans probably used the cross many times after the death of Jesus. Wood is not exactly common around Jerusalem. Eventually, the wood rotted away, but in time came to be known around the world.

No one remembers the names of others who may have died on the same cross. We impart no special significance to the deaths of those who left this world in a similar manner to Jesus. The power of the cross must not come from the shape, the material, or how long the victim endured the suffering. Some died more quickly on the cross, perhaps worn down by disease or other punishment, some died after days of suffering where Jesus lasted only hours. The reason for the cross must not be how the person died, but something in the person who died on the cross. As with the stripes, we get nowhere looking at the method or the material. We learn the significance by looking at the man, Jesus Christ. We are healed by HIS stripes, and we are saved from eternal death by HIS death on the cross. No other scourging of the whips accomplished anything for you and me. Only one death on a cross paid for the sins of many. One man lived a sinless life to become the acceptable sacrifice for the God who demanded perfect justice.

Yes, there was something special about that particular cross, but it wasn't in the wood. The Son of God died on that cross. If a cross could feel honor, that wood did at that time. Of course if the dead wood could feel, it certainly would have felt the shame and helplessness of the Lamb. One day that same wood may get the chance to feel the majesty and glory as the Lion comes forth in triumph. Why am I writing about wood? We feel the shame of our sin, and we find the only cure when we bring it to the risen Savior. We look up in hope for our redemption comes in the clouds of glory. We stand ready to receive His majesty as the King of kings returns to bring us home.

Bucky