Why The Cross?

INTRODUCTION:

Beginning first with Matthew 27:33-44 New International Version (NIV)

33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Luke 23:34a (NIV)

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

John 19:25-27 (NIV) 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Luke 23:39-43 (NIV) 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Matthew 27:45-46 (NIV) 45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Luke 23:46a (NIV)

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

John 19:30b (NIV)

Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Matthew 27:51-54 (NIV) 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[a] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

BODY:

In almost any church it is lifted up as the focal point in our worship services.

It is the most recognizable symbol that identifies Christianity.

What am I talking about? I'm talking about the Cross!

Crucifixion was a form of execution reserved for the worst offenders. It became the common form of execution for traitors, defeated armies, and rebellious slaves. It was officially accepted as the most painful and disgraceful form of capital punishment, more so than decapitation, being thrown to wild animals or even being burned alive. This tortuous execution was viewed by the Jews as a cursed form of death. Deuteronomy 21:23 states that “anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse.”

Why then is possibly the most cruel and gruesome form of capital punishment, the Cross, so celebrated and uplifted? Why is this symbol so precious to us? Why do we adorn our walls, clothes, and bodies with its likeness? Why would Jesus say to His followers that for them to be His disciple, they must carry a cross? Why does something so cursed, so terrible, so bloody give hope to millions? Why would so many cherish this symbol of torture and death?

And this is the reason: Salvation. Because who would have imagined that the Holy One of God would voluntarily take upon himself the curse that should have been ours?

But I think we forget and sterilize and water down the reality of what God did for us. It doesn't affect us as it should. We are desensitized to the awful truth of the cross. The awful truth is that God's Son endured all that … for what you did and for what I did and for the sins of humanity.