Jesus
Christ gave us a statement of his unending love
by the mystery of the cross. God could have used
other ways to give us salvation, but he chose
the cross. Crucifixion was a symbol of shame and
humiliation (Heb. 12:2). The Romans used the
cross as an instrument of punishment to execute
the worst and lowest of criminals. The death of
Jesus on the cross was the most cruel and
degrading form of execution. The crucifixion of
our Savior turned into an obstacle for the Jews
because of its humiliation (1 Cor.
1:23).
As True
God and true man, Jesus Christ knew what he
would endure in the future. Just a few hours
before his crucifixion, Jesus asked the Father
if they could change the plan of salvation so he
wouldn’t die on the
cross.
42Saying, Father, if
thou be willing, remove this cup from me:
nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43And there appeared an angel unto
him from heaven, strengthening him.
44And being in an agony he prayed
more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were
great drops of blood falling down to the ground
(Luke 22:42–44, KJV).
It was extremely difficult for Jesus to
volunteer his body, mind, and spirit to the
intense suffering of the cross. As he prayed,
his sweat turned into blood because of the agony
and the knowledge of his future suffering. Some
people only consider the physical side when they
think or talk about the
cross.
During a
crucifixion, the physical torment increases
on a person until the body reacts by shutting
down. Then the person passes out and dies. Jesus
on the cross went through terrible physical
pain, but it was probable less than the other
agony. Something else happened on that first
pre-Easter Friday. The Father withdrew from his
Son!
46And about the ninth
hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli,
Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me (Matt. 27:46,
KJV)?
Jesus
felt the horrible weight of our sins when he
hung on the cross. We need to remember that
Jesus Christ never committed a sin when he lived
as a man on earth. Because God is Holy, it’s an
abhorrence for him to come into the presence of
sin. Still, the Father permitted all of our sin
and evil to rest upon his Son. It was more than
any normal person could endure. The Father
withdrew from his Son for the first time. Jesus
was alone!
Jesus on the Cross gives
Salvation
Something happened on the cross that we
cannot understand. Jesus on the cross endured a
high level of pain in the physical, spiritual,
and mental realms. The pain touched his whole
being. The Father allowed Jesus to endure the
consequences of our sins. Our Savior took our
place when he felt the agony and the distress of
the cross.
The
cross indicated the mystery of salvation
that man had sought since Adam’s fall into sin.
The grace of Jesus on the cross gave the
opportunity for all people to gain eternal life.
The mystery of God points to the salvation of
man through the cross (Col.
2:2–14).
Jesus Christ promises us that he will
fulfill the mystery of God. After the last
trumpet finishes, the Almighty will pass the
final judgment on all people. Some will receive
a glorious inheritance; others will receive what
they don’t want. The Lord, Jesus on the
cross, proclames this by himself: he cannot
lie. The Creator guarantees us that his promises
in the Bible are true.
“Father,
we thank you for the gift of salvation that you
offer us. Lord Jesus, we thank you that you
reach down and draw us. Holy Spirit, we thank
you for directing our walk on earth. We praise
you for the everlasting love and kindness from
Jesus on the cross. Praise your Holy
Name.
Amen!”
