Glory of the Cross

Post by Pastor Jon

The cross a horrible tool of torture and death. It is designed to bring shame, pain and an agonizing death that would take hours. Bones are pulled out of joint, muscles and ligaments stretched and torn, and it is almost impossible to breathe. It is a mocker.

You my savior, my redeemer, the one who loves me stepped out of the glories of heaven a man – to be tempted as a man, to struggle as a man, to suffer as a man. From the day you were born in that lowly stable your whole life lead to the cross.

 

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. – 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 (NIV)

It started with the sting on his back from the cat-o-nine tails. Each blow creating stripes on his back that bring my healing. A crown made from thorns that curse the earth. They cut and tear into his scalp and brow. They mock the crown of glory, the crown of his destiny. He was crushed by the weight of the heavy timbers along the path, too much for him to carry. Finally the nails that seek to keep him there are driven through. Hours of pain and torment will slowly pass. Not seen is the wrath of God being poured out on His own son to erase my debt. The enemy thinks he has won, but Jesus declares when in the fullness of time it is finished.

The Glory of the Cross

• A cross that brings me life and cleanses me of all my sin. Not some, not part but all.
• A cross that brings me peace and joy.
• A cross that transforms and renews my mind.
• A cross that restores my relationship with the one and only Holy God. He is a God who is madly passionately in love with me.
• A cross freely given so I can walk everyday in the newness of its grace and mercy.

Grace and Mercy Everyday!

O’ the glory of the cross! A glory so wonderful we remember the day it happened each year by declaring it good.

I pray that every day I can live a life worthy of the cross and by the blood of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit I will – He must increase in me and I must decrease. All for the glory of God – Amen