Word of the Cross

According to the Old Testament the propitiation for sin was wrought by a sacrificial system where innocent animals were killed. But God intended that man should not only kill innocent animals for his sin but should also kill all sinful thoughts and designs in his heart and mind, which alienate Man from God, from his fellow-beings and also from everything in creation. God does not require us just to slay animals for the righting of our relationship with Him and with others. What He wants us to do is to love Him, to be humble and to live justly in our relationship with other people. Like the other prophets the 8th century B.C. prophet Micah urged his nation with the admonition: "The LORD has told us what is good. What He requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God." But man failed in this. He gave primacy to external righteousness and sacrifices devoid of true spirituality. So in God's appointed time Jesus Christ came to fulfil God's law and he paid the penalty for sin. God is love, but He is just and holy. In the crucifixion of His sinless son God showed both his grace for mankind and His justice demanding punishment for sin. Hence is the Cross of Christ.

While talking about the death of Christ on the cross we must take a note of the fact that being crucified was a curse from God according to Mosaic law. " Cursed is the one who hangs on the tree (cross)". Jesus' own disciples even could not think that their master would be crucified. Crucifixion was incomparable to any other form of execution in so far as physical pain and mental anguish is concerned. Cicero wrote, " The idea of the cross should never come near the bodies of the Roman citizens, it should never pass through their thought, eyes or ears." On the other side Plautus (c. 250 to 184 BC), the poet to give first evidence of Roman crucifixions in his writings said that slaves had been executed on the cross 'from time immemorial.' The very idea that God's Messiah should have such a violent and ignominious death was foolish to the Greek mind. They were lovers and seekers after the light of knowledge for the salvation of souls. The Jews hoped that the Messiah would be an earthly ruler possessing unimaginable amount of ability and authority who would bring under his dominion all mankind. He would be a super and extraordinary human person, one with whom the association of the cross was a terrible blasphemy and abomination.

But God's mind is so different from the human mind. Rightly prophet Isaiah wrote about God declaring: " My thoughts are not like yours, and my ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above yours." (Isaiah 55:8-9). God chose that very cursed death for His son as the way for His salvation plan for man. Paul, the greatest interpreter of Christianity wrote: " We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and a folly to the Gentiles" (I Corinthians 1:18). On the third day after his crucifixion God raised Jesus from the grave. Those who crucified him thought that they had finished him. But God in His spiritual power, love and justice vindicated His son. God's holy power works when man's worldly power and pride climbs up its peak. Jesus died as a human person, but God raised him as His divine son. His ways are different to that of man. As He let His son die the vicarious death for sinful man, so He vindicated him and got his justice taken care of by resurrecting him from death, which act also serves as the seal and supreme mark of God's power over death and the devil.

As the sinless Son of God Jesus paid the penalty that was due for us. God in His mercy and grace withdrew the punishment that was due for us on the one hand, and in his mercy he allowed his Son to die on the Cross. Therefore, the Cross of Jesus is the universal Christian symbol. The fact of Christ's death has altogether changed the meaning of the cross.

The Cross is one of the visible reminders for Christians that Christ, as the Lamb of God, paid the ransom-price for their redemption from sin's demand, which is eternal death and separation from God. In the Cross of Jesus we see him, not only as our Savior, but also as the Supreme Model of self-giving love and forgiveness. He is our Substitute and Vicar. He is also Reconciler as he has reconciled us to God from Whom we got alienated because of our greed and pride. In as much as he paid the price for our redemption he also represented us in our penitence and confession for our sin. He bore our sorrows and also our iniquities. He perfectly identified with us in our human predicament. Christ is also our Pioneer in innocent suffering by exhibiting God's glory and power over all that threaten life. Christ is our supreme example for any suffering that we may be enduring for truth and justice in our society, in our family, the wider world at large, in every aspect of our human relationships right here on earth. He himself is the good news of freedom from any kind of bondage and oppression, whether physical, mental or spiritual.

The fact of Christ's accomplishing mission follows his commission to his followers not only to believe in him but also to follow his commandment: to love God and to love others. The Cross of Christ speaks to us. Unless the meaning and motive of the sacrificial death of Christ is personally internalised the word of our mere faith in him is a mockery. Jesus has called his disciples to bear their own crosses. This is his call to each one of us. We continue the work that he started in faith and trust in God so that our innocent suffering will bear fruit in transforming lives.

Reflecting on the Cross someone has said," Because we children of Adam want to become great
He became small.
Because we will not stoop,
He humbled Himself.
Because we want to rule,
He came to serve."

This is a world to which Jesus came and gave his holy life for the salvation of mankind from the bondage of sin. But the world has not changed much since then. Christianity talks of changed people changing others. Jesus has accomplished our freedom from the eternal punishment for sin and reconciled to God. But he has also commissioned us to be witness to his work and thereby continue the work that he began. He finished his work only to commission us to do ours. May the cross and the resurrection of Christ challenge us to do our bit; for freedom's sake Christ has freed us.