The Cross

Why The Cross

The cross is foundational to everything we do as disciples and ministers. If we want to remain faithful to the call God has given us as a global family of churches, we must continue to be Christ-centered.

Introduction

Isaiah 53:10–12, Matthew 5:43–45, Matthew 27:33–44, Acts 7:59–60

“Father, forgive them.” Christ’s forgiveness of his tormentors reveals God’s desire to extend forgiveness to all. “And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments.” — Luke 23:33–34 Jesus hangs from the cross, looking upon the very people that he came to earth to save. The crowds are watching, the soldiers are gambling, the rulers are scoffing, and Jesus is dying. It’s a chaotic scene, yet at its heart, it’s about something incredibly pure—forgiveness. Jesus, amidst his suffering, looks down and says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The word “them” is a broad label. Who does it include? It includes the brutal and heartless soldiers throwing dice for his clothes, representing Roman power. It includes the mocking Jewish rulers who conspired against him and pushed for his execution. And it includes the crowds who, just hours before, called for his death. The actions of the Gentiles and Jews remind us that Jesus’ forgiveness spans wide, reaching those who are far from him and those who are close. “. . . for they know not what they do.” Can you recall when you said or did something sinful without knowing how damaging your behavior was? One scholar said, “Ignorance may diminish guilt, but does not remove it.” Christ’s forgiveness is not only limited to those present at his crucifixion. The prophet Isaiah tells us that Jesus was “despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3). At the cross, “them” includes us. This is at the heart of Jesus’ words. He understands our sin-sick condition and intercedes on our behalf both in prayer and sacrifice, taking our punishment and offering himself as the only pathway back to God and reconciling us to the Father on the cross. The Methodist hymn “Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive” captures well the power of Christ’s forgiveness: “How can Your pardon reach and bless the unforgiving heart That broods on wrongs and will not let old bitterness depart? In blazing light Your cross reveals the truth we dimly knew: How trifling others’ debts to us; how great our debt to You!” REFLECTION Isaiah 53:3 describes Jesus as “despised and rejected by men.” How does Christ’s sacrificial forgiveness shape your response to being wronged or to those you may have wronged? APPLICATION Ask the Holy Spirit to show you someone you have unforgiveness toward. Determine how you will resolve that situation. PRAY Heavenly Father, We remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, where he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” We realize that “them” includes us and that our sins are part of why he suffered. Thank you for the wide-reaching forgiveness Jesus offers us. Open our eyes to see the harm our actions may cause and give us the grace to seek and offer forgiveness. We know the immense debt we owe you and how trivial our grievances against others are in comparison. In the light of the cross, we see the truth of our need for grace and the call to extend that grace to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 1

Mark 15:27–32, John 10:28–30, Romans 6:20–23, 1 John 5:11–13

“You will be with me in paradise.” Christ’s pardon of the repentant thief reveals his desire to extend eternal life to all. “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” — Luke 23:39–43 Suspended between life and death, one criminal mocked Jesus. But Matthew tells us that at some time, both criminals mocked him (Matthew 27:44). Something must have changed the heart of the penitent thief. What miracle transformed his heart of stone? Maybe it was when he looked into Jesus’ eyes and heard him pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The penitent thief saw the depth of his sin. “We are receiving the due reward of our deeds.” He recognized the sinlessness of the Savior. “This man has done nothing wrong.” And he confessed Jesus as Lord, showing he recognized Jesus as the ruler of a heavenly kingdom. The result was eternal life. “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Paradise is from a Persian word that symbolizes a place of beauty and delight. Amazing grace made a criminal immediately fit for paradise. God’s grace still does the same to every repentant sinner. In the words of hymnist William Cowper: “There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see, That fountain in his day. And there may I, though vile as he, Wash all my sins away!” REFLECTION The thief confessed Jesus as Lord and recognized his kingdom. Reflect on your own confession of faith. How do you daily affirm Jesus as Lord in your life? What areas of your life do you need to surrender to his lordship? APPLICATION Meditate on Luke 23:39–43 and the additional readings (Mark 15:27–32; John 10:28–30; Romans 6:20–23; 1 John 5:11–13). After reading, pray, asking God to help you internalize the truth about repentance, grace, and eternal life. PRAY Heavenly Father, We are humbled by the repentant thief who found forgiveness in his last moments. We see ourselves as that thief and understand that we, too, deserve the consequences of our actions. And, like him, we look to Jesus and his mercy. We marvel at the grace that extended paradise to a repentant sinner, showing your desire to grant eternal life to all who turn to you. As the thief recognized your kingdom, we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Thank you for the forgiveness and new life that comes through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus. His blood washes away all our guilty stains, making us fit for paradise. We find our hope in the promise of eternal life with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 2

Ephesians 2:14–16, Colossians 3:11–15, John 1:11–13, John 13:34–35

“Woman, behold your son.” Christ’s relational provision for his mother reveals the new community the cross creates. “. . . but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” — John 19:25–27 Family. We all have one. Jesus, God Incarnate, also had a human family he called his own. Scripture provides few details about his boyhood, but we know he was fully human and experienced things first-century Jewish boys would. Like any young boy spending time with his friends, we can imagine him carving wood, wrestling, and exploring. He knew the stability of weekly Sabbath dinners, the traditions of annual holidays, and a sense of belonging from his Jewish heritage. Family. God’s gift. He grew to manhood and, in an act of obedience, hung on the cross. Mary and John stood at his feet. The clock was ticking. His death was near, and Jesus made two remarkable statements. A hush would soon fall, but at this moment, perhaps Mary and John strained to hear him above the din. What was he saying? With his last words spoken to his mother and his beloved disciple before his death, he broadened the meaning of family to include spiritual family—for those who call him Lord. How extraordinary! Without diminishing natural families, he gave us what we would need to walk as Christ-followers in a broken world. Imperfect men and women who would speak truth to us, stand with us in faith, encourage us, and even weep with us. A people with whom we could experience his love and build his kingdom, using the grace and gifts the Father has given us. Together. Spiritual family. God’s gift. Hymnist John Fawcett captured the strength of community we experience together in his hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.” “We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear, And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.” REFLECTION Jesus broadened the concept of family to include spiritual relationships without diminishing natural family ties. In what ways do you find it challenging or rewarding to balance commitments to your natural family and your spiritual family? How can you improve in nurturing both? APPLICATION Identify someone in your spiritual family who may need support. Commit to spending time with them, offering assistance, and praying with and for them. PRAY Heavenly Father, Thank you for the gift of family. We are grateful for our natural families and the love and support they provide. We also thank you for our spiritual family and the community of believers you placed in our lives. Help us to cherish and nurture these relationships, recognizing them as your provision for us to walk faithfully in this world. Jesus showed us the importance of caring for one another, even in his final moments. Teach us to look beyond our immediate circles and extend our love and care to those within our spiritual family. May we quickly support, encourage, and stand together in faith, just as you intended. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 3

Psalm 103:8–10, Lamentations 3:31–33, Micah 7:18–19, Titus 3:3–7

“Why have you forsaken me?” The Father’s abandonment of his Son reveals the horror of sin, the necessity of judgment, and the mercy of God. “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” — Mark 15:34 Martin Luther once spent hours motionless and immersed in deep contemplation over this text. Observers thought he was in a trance, neither eating nor drinking. He finally emerged, saying, “God forsaking God! No man can understand that.” We cannot comprehend Christ’s agonizing cry on the cross. In that hour, the sinless One suffered the horror of sin. His bitter lament betrayed the torment of hell. It was the sound of sin’s price paid in full. Eternity will not exhaust the story of what Jesus endured in those dark hours on Calvary’s cross. The cross reveals the most violent and mysterious outpouring of God’s wrath in all the Scriptures. God abandoned his Son to satisfy the demands of justice. Jesus bore the full measure of divine wrath against the sins of the world when God “laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The Father descended in judgment on Golgotha to unleash his fury not against sinners but against the Sin-bearer. When a judge delivers a verdict on a guilty criminal, he decrees justice or mercy; he cannot pronounce both. But when God delivered his sentence against guilty humanity, justice and mercy met in perfect harmony. The penalty paid for sin affirmed God’s justice, and our purchased pardon demonstrated his mercy. Isaac Watts’ hymn captures the awe we feel when we contemplate Christ upon the cross: “Alas! and did my Savior bleed, And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For sinners such as I? Was it for crimes that I had done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity, grace unknown, And love beyond degree!” REFLECTION Consider how the cross reveals both God’s justice and mercy. How does this understanding affect your view of God’s character and his actions in your life? APPLICATION Pray for an opportunity to share your testimony with another person, highlighting God’s mercy on your life. PRAY Heavenly Father, We come to you in awe and gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. His cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” reminds us of the horror of sin and the necessity of judgment. We cannot fully grasp the depth of Christ’s suffering or the weight of the divine displeasure he bore on our behalf. Thank you for your mercy shown through Jesus, who took our punishment and offered us forgiveness and eternal life. Teach us to show the same mercy to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 4

Romans 8:3–4, Philippians 2:6–11, 1 Timothy 2:5–6, Hebrews 2:14

“I thirst.” Christ’s physical thirst reveals his full humanity and why that matters for our salvation. “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.” — John 19:28–29 Every year for generations, the Israelites sacrificed animals to atone for their sins. This was God’s provision if they believed in the innocent substitute to come. But most of the Israelites put their trust in their work of giving the sacrifice. That was a mere bandage for a broken bone. What Israel (and mankind) needed to heal their brokenness was the perfect exchange of a sinless human. The only perfect, sinless human to ever live was Jesus. John describes him as the “Word made flesh.” Our holy God descended into humanity while retaining his divinity. Throughout the gospels, Jesus experienced the human condition without the burden of sin. Forty days of fasting made him hungry (Matthew 4:2). A long day of ministry left him tired and asleep on a boat (Matthew 8:24). He wept at the grave of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35). And here on the cross, he is in agony, beaten and thirsty. Jesus is fully God and fully man, never one more than the other, making him our perfect sacrifice forever. As he hung on the cross, faultless for our forgiveness, “I thirst” revealed him as our perfect high priest who identified with us. His sacrifice was more than just a bandage—it was redemption. Because of Christ’s humanity, he meets all the requirements of the sacrifice needed to redeem us fully. Be encouraged, for he completely heals all our brokenness, not just once but for a lifetime. “To the sinner, You were grace. And the broken You embraced. And in the end, the proof is in Your wounds. Blood and tears, How can it be? There’s a God who weeps. There’s a God who bleeds.” — “Son of Suffering” written by David Funk, Aaron Moses, Matt Redman, and Nate Moore REFLECTION What is the significance of Jesus saying “I thirst” on the cross? Why is it essential for our salvation that Jesus experienced the full range of human needs and sufferings? APPLICATION Ask Jesus to give you a heart of compassion for other people. Search for an opportunity to serve someone in your community who is in need or suffering. PRAY Heavenly Father, When we hear the words “I thirst” spoken from the cross, we remember that our Savior experienced the depths of human suffering and need. Thank you for sending Jesus to experience humanity fully. We are grateful for Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, bearing our sins and offering healing for our brokenness. His humanity allows him to understand our struggles and intercede for us. Help us to live in gratitude and extend your compassion to others, reflecting Jesus’ love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 5

Ephesians 2:8–9, Colossians 2:13–14, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 10:12–14

“It is finished.” Christ’s words show that he has fully achieved our salvation, and there’s nothing more for us to add. “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” — John 19:30 “It is finished”—what a statement, especially at what seems to be a moment of weakness and humiliation. But what is finished? Jesus’ life? His ministry? To understand what is finished, we must look at the beginning. In the creation account in Genesis 1–2, God made Adam and Eve in his image and, with him, gave them dominion over the earth. But the story turns in Genesis 3 when they disobeyed God, and sin entered the world. This original sin has separated not only Adam and Eve but all humans from God, and there’s nothing we can do to mend that separation. It must be the work of God. God knew we would need his mercy and deliverance from sin even before he created the universe. In his sovereignty, he began a plan to redeem and reconcile us. This plan, enacted through covenants in the Old Testament, culminates at the cross in the New Testament. Through the death of his Son, Jesus Christ, it is finally fulfilled. The debt of sin—a debt that we could never settle—was fully paid by the blood of Jesus, once and for all, on the cross. Yes, Jesus had fulfilled his earthly mission, but he also accomplished the work of restoring us to himself. Somewhat paradoxical, “It is finished” marks the beginning of a new covenant. Through Jesus’ work on the cross, we find forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation with God. Despite our sins and imperfections, God credits us with the righteousness of his son. Let us live each day confident in our salvation, knowing that there is nothing more for us to add. “‘Tis finished! The Messiah dies Cut off for sins, but not His own; Accomplished is the sacrifice The great redeeming work is done.” —“‘Tis Finished! The Messiah Dies” written by Charles Wesley REFLECTION Consider the concept that Jesus fully paid the debt of sin on the cross. How can you live out this understanding in your relationships and actions? APPLICATION Write down the names of people you know who have not received Christ as Lord. Pray for them, asking God for an open door to share the good news of the gospel and salvation with them. PRAY Heavenly Father, Thank you for the completed work of Jesus on the cross. When he said, “It is finished,” our salvation was fully achieved, and there is nothing more we can add to it. We are grateful for your plan of redemption. Help us live each day with the confidence that our salvation is secure in him. Jesus, we are humbled by your sacrifice. You bore the weight of our sins and paid the debt that we could never settle. Through your blood, we are forgiven, redeemed, and made righteous. In your name we pray, Amen.

Conclusion

Romans 8:38–39, 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, Revelation 21:4, John 14:1–3

“Into your hands.” Christ’s confident surrender to God shows that life continues after death, assuring us of salvation. “It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last.” — Luke 23:44–46 Moments before his final breath, Jesus quotes Psalm 31:5, a psalm Jews used as an evening prayer. Amid his anguish, he prays the hymn he may have first learned at home. And not in a whisper but in a loud voice. At this stage of his crucifixion, simply taking a breath would have been torture. Yet, he exerts himself enough to speak in a loud voice. Why? Perhaps it wasn’t for him but for the people around him. Perhaps it was for us. In these final words, Jesus demonstrates a confident surrender to God and complete peace. He knew the story wasn’t over. As these words reverberate throughout history, they testify to all who hear, “Believe in me, and you can have this assurance in the face of death. You can know your eternity is secure.” This week, as we’ve reflected on these words that Jesus spoke from the cross, we understand that he’s no longer on the cross. He’s sitting at the right hand of God in heaven, and he’s sent us his Holy Spirit, who, in our moments of doubt, whispers Jesus’ words back to us. When we feel our sins can’t be forgiven, we hear, “Father, forgive them.” When we feel alone and without family, we hear, “Woman, behold your son.” When we feel like we’re not good enough, we hear, “It is finished.” When our hearts are full of fear, we hear, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.” Our hearts burst out in praise, singing the words the blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby penned: “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!” REFLECTION Reflect on a time when you had to trust God completely despite fear or uncertainty. How did that experience shape your faith? APPLICATION Take a walk in a peaceful setting, focusing on committing your fears and uncertainties into God’s hands. As you walk, recite Jesus’ words from the cross and let them resonate in your heart. PRAY Heavenly Father, Thank you for your Son’s ultimate sacrifice. As he breathed his last, he proclaimed his trust in you: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When we face trials and uncertainties, let those words be a source of strength and assurance. We commit our lives into your hands. Help us to live each day with the confident surrender that Jesus demonstrated, trusting that you hold our future securely. We find peace in your presence, knowing that our eternity is secure in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.