Reflecting on the Cross

by: Pastor Jose V. Velasco

Read John 19:17-22

Last February 18, 2015 most Christians observed Ash Wednesday, which is the start of the Lenten Season.  Lenten Season is a time when Christians remember the sufferings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that Jesus Christ died on a cross. So the cross became a prominent symbol of Christ’s sufferings and death. To Paul the cross was so paramount that he said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14). Unlike the religious Jews during Paul’s day who boasted in their meticulous following of the rules and laws of their religion, what mattered alone to Paul was the cross of Jesus Christ.

Actually, in the cross, on the one hand, we see wicked people heaping their sins upon the sinless Christ. On the other hand, we see a holy and merciful God reconciling sinful humanity to Himself through the death of His Son Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:19-22). What were the sins that propelled the Jews and the Romans to crucify Him? Rejection of the Messiah, hatred, unbelief, disobedience, fear of losing political power by Pilate, pride, envy, hardened hearts, etc. Isaiah says “He was despised and rejected by men, - - But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:3, 5). In other words it was human sin that crucified Jesus on the cross.

In a sense the sins of those who actually crucified Jesus embodied the sins of all people in the world, even those long before and after Jesus Christ, including you and me. Peter says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Isaiah also says, “He bore the sins of many” (Isa. 53:12). Hebrews 6:6 speaks of people who sin today, “if they fall away - - -they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” So, even today every time you and I sin, we all crucify Christ anew. But the sins of people before Christ were also included in the sins of those who crucified Him. Since the time Adam and Eve sinned the Lamb of God has already been suffering spiritually. Christ is “the Lamb that was slain from the time of creation” (Revelation 13:8). His sufferings on the cross was just the historical tangible manifestation of that incessant divine suffering since the Fall. Spiritually speaking, we sinful human beings all participated in crucifying Jesus Christ.

In the cross a gracious and forgiving God confronts a sinful humanity offering forgiveness and reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19). Sin separates us from God. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isa. 59:2). And “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). This means lost from God eternally. But God does not want that to happen. “God our Savior, -- wants all men to be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4). During the arrest and crucifixion Jesus had all the powers to fight back and annihilate all His enemies if He wanted to, but He did not do that (Mt. 26:53). In love He allowed Himself to be arrested and crucified.  And on the cross Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34). We are all sinners but on the cross God offers love and forgiveness. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). You can escape eternal death or separation from God in hell by repenting of your sins, believing in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and striving to live to please and glorify Him. And you will be with Him now and forever in heaven.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I humbly acknowledge that I am a sinner, and am sorry that many times in my sinning I crucify you again. Forgive and cleanse me of my sins that I may be free to live to please and glorify you.  In your blessed name I pray.  Amen.