Reflections on the Cross of Christ: the crux of history

By Pastor Paul

"Indeed Christ, our Passover lamb, was sacrificed for us" (1 Cor. 5:7).

The cross of Jesus is the focal point of all time. Our English word ‘cross’ comes from the Latin word crux. We often say that ‘the crux of the matter is such and such,’ referring to the point that what we believe is important above all others.

I believe that the cross of Jesus Christ is the crux of all history and existence. Old Testament scripture points forward to it, New Testament scripture points back to it. At the end of the age, when the redeemed are gathered at the throne of God, endless praises will be extended to Jesus, because of His cross.

“And they sang a new song, saying:
‘You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation’ ”(Rev. 5:9).

It was at the cross that God provided the perfect sacrifice for sin. It was there that He bore the penalty for sin that He Himself had prescribed. Theoretically, perhaps, if a perfect man could have been found, who was willing to bear my sin, his sacrifice might have been sufficient. However, no such man could be found. God said that he looked, but He couldn't find anyone.

"He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor;
therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him" (Isaiah 59:16).

There are many good people in the Bible, but not perfect ones. When an atonement for sin and reconciliation to God is at stake, good is not good enough. Perfection was demanded and because no perfect man could be found, God Himself supplied the necessary sacrifice and purchased our salvation with His own blood.

"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).

"Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" (Heb. 9:12).

"Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate" (Heb. 13:12).

"… and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth" (Rev. 1:5).

The apostle Paul asks us to take notice that God was in Christ, and He reconciled us to Himself by the cross of Jesus. He also has given to believers "the word of reconciliation."

"… that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation"
(2 Cor. 5:19).

It is with this in mind that we ask you to consider the cross of Jesus and how you have applied it to your life. With the Apostle Paul, we ask you, we plead with you, we beg you: be reconciled to God. Our eternal destiny depends on how we treat this subject.

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:20-21)

"But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Gal. 6:14).

With love, prayers and Shalom
In Jesus' mighty name,
Pastor Paul (Director)
Bibles for Mideast