Do You Know The Meaning of the Cross in the Christian Faith?

Jesus-Christ, the begotten (born from the virtue of the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary’s womb) Son of GOD; GOD the Son; WORD of GOD that took the form of a human, came on earth, grew among men, ministered to them and died on the Cross so that each man who believes in Him will be forgiven of their SIN towards GOD and receive abundant everlasting Life.

John 3:16 New International Version: “16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Bible Gateway)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A16&version=NIV)

The Cross was the mean by which people were killed under the Roman Empire at least in the time Jesus lived; under Emperor Cesar. The Cross was a way of punishment. The worst! Can you imagine being hanged on it. Your hands and feet nailed with archaic screw drivers. No anesthesia attached! Just imagining the sound of the screws being inserted into the forearms and the feet. The screams of the punished!…

Dying at the Cross was a symbol of curse.

The Bible says in the book of Galatians Chapter 3 verse 13: “
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole” (Bible Gateway NIV Translation).

Wow! The SON of GOD, becoming a curse! What makes the Cross even particular is that it was meant for the worst people in society. We are talking about criminals of the highest ranks. Example; traitors (people considered and confirmed as a threat to the power in place; Emperor Cesar for example), thieves, rebels (not just someone who does not hang out where we want them to, we mean real intentioned to overthrow powers in place even by committing murders).

Yes, Jesus was lined with criminals. The worst to get on that cross. None of us would have volunteered for such. Yet it was the only way to save us from SIN. That was not all. He was rejected, disavowed, falsely accused; because How would He have gotten to the Cross if there were no accusations that qualified Him as a criminal? But His only crime was saying that He is the Son of GOD and that He could build the Temple in three days. His title became the blasphemer; that is the highest level of lying. Lying against GOD Himself. He was exchanged for a confirmed rebel among the people; we call the “lucky” Barabas.

The Cross means death, pain, shame, rejection, bad luck, darkness, ruin, poverty, misery, damnation, being lost, disposable, criminal, purposeless, hated, outcast, you name it. There is nothing good with being hanged on the Cross. Yet, to the One who overcame, the Bible says He has been made highest above ALL.

The Cross for the Christian is the Compulsory way to Salvation. Christians do not literally (physically) get hung on the Cross, but they go through the process of the Cross as they receive Jesus-Christ. Because the world (the system) opposes the Truth of the Gospel. So following Christ and being standing when He returns for His people requires to accept to go through the process of the Cross. Cowardice cannot make it. There is no shortcut.

Anyone who denies to take on themselves to carry the Cross and walk after the Lord will quit along the way. They will deny the Lord. Life pressures will not give them the choice.

We are not called to “try” to be better Christians. We are called to WALK AFTER CHRIST. That means we have to be ready to live as He lived. Be treated as He was treated. Do what He did and even more. So we cannot runaway from the Cross for Faithfulness to the Lord’s purposes.

The Lord said Himself in the book of Matthew 10 verse 38:

“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Bible Gateway NIV Translation).

The Literal Cross where Jesus was hung means pain. But its greatest meaning is LOVE. He did not go there because it was fun. He went there for us. He gave Himself as a Perfect Sacrifice so that we will LIVE. The Cross is Life.

In a world of philosophies and beautiful speeches, it can be easy to believe that words are ALL, but Jesus-Christ proved that LOVE meant more than words and empty promises. As humans we may like to be flattered, complimented. Looking at it, however, only the beyond the flattering words survive trials, temptations, the passages of fire and the Valley of the Shadow of death.

The best strategy of the thief, the enemy, the devil, the malicious is flattery. Depending on how he can get to someone, he is great at good talks. Eve in the garden can tell us some. How in existence did the Ancient Serpent (Satan) convince her that the fruit=death was good for her to even taste is a mystery, but it must have been a great speech!

The Cross is dangerous looking from afar, but safe getting to know the story. Today we hang everything at the Cross; Death, diseases, temptations, anxiety, addiction, wickedness, weaknesses, doubts, darkness against our life, evil tendencies we have, ALL we take it and hang it at the Cross.

There is Power in the Cross the Lord Jesus-Christ was hung on!

As your sister, I humbly insist DO NOT TRUST THE ONE WHO DOES NOT WANT THE CROSS!

The Lord Jesus-Christ who overcame the cross strengthens us always and keeps us Faithful till He returns.

Cross-fully yours,

Come, Lord Jesus-Christ!