Today in Church, I looked upon the Cross and pondered on it. As a symbol of our faith, it stands as a reminder of many fundamental messages from our Lord. In no particular order, let us meditate on the messages of the Cross. Feel free to add more messages that come to mind in the comments section.

God’s Love For Us

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Everyone who beholds the Cross will be reminded of the amazing love of a God who humbled Himself and laid down His life to relate to them and draw them close to Him. In the shelter of His love, there is no shame, only joy and peace.

Christ’s Victory

Because of Christ’s victory over sin and death, we have become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21), by the grace of God. Sin and Death have lost their grip on our souls and we can now live free to the glory of God and live forever too. Furthermore, by this same victory, the poor shall declare their riches, the weak their strength and the sick their healing.

Jesus’ Example

We are to be like Christ, and the Cross shows us the nature of Christ and His love. His commandment for us to love others as He loved us (John 13:34) is easy to understand and obey when you look upon the Cross. We are able to forgive even the unrepentant, remembering that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).

The Lord’s Suffering

Just like Christ, we are strangers in this world, ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven. And like Him, we will be despised for our message and our difference. The Cross of Christ reminds us of this fact and that we ought to take up our crosses also and join in His fellowship of suffering (Phil 3:10).

Love Your Enemies

Even on that Cross, while He suffered and bore their sins, Christ was mocked by those He came to redeem. He was not deterred by their wickedness and hatred, but forgave them and prayed for them.  Loving our enemies is essential to our difference as Christians, because as Christ said, everyone loves their friends (Matt 5:44-47).

The End of Religion

Christ’s sacrificial death as the Lamb of God once and for all signified the end of religious sacrifices for sins. He tore the barrier of religion that separated us from God and true spirituality (John 4:24), bearing its burdens, and replacing our burdens with the bearable and desirable yoke of Love (Matt 11:28-30). Salvation is not found in the abundance of our works, but in the humility of our faith in Jesus.

The Coming Judgment

As you soberly reflect on the Cross, you will know the offence of its message. You will remember that only few will receive the messages of the Cross and mould their lives to it (Matt 7:14). You will feel a burden to tell as many as you can to repent and accept the grace of God, so that they will saved from the coming judgment and know the peace of God.

Those who reject the atonement of Christ will bear their own guilt and receive the undiluted wrath from God. Hence, Jesus’ commandment to go into all the world and preach the good news…that they have a Friend who has paid the price for their sins. A message that “is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18).

May God gives us the grace to believe by faith, the courage to carry our cross daily, the wisdom to take on the yoke of Christ, the liberty to abide in Christ and imitate Him in love and the empowerment to endure suffering and be a living witness until Christ returns or the Lord calls us Home. In Jesus’ Name, amen!

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