Why the Cross? - Part 2
Why the Cross? - Part 2
In the last article we began to think about the cross of Jesus Christ, and what it teaches us about God and ourselves. As we observed, the cross is a very acceptable religious symbol in our day, but to people who lived in New Testament times the cross “proved” that Jesus was a total failure. Archaeologists have found a piece of graffiti in Rome which depicts a figure on a cross. The figure is that of a man, but with a donkey’s head, and next to the cross stands another man with one arm raised in worship. Underneath are scrawled the words, “Alexamenos worships his God.” Alexamenos was obviously a Christian who worshipped Jesus as God. The picture and its mocking caption tell us what others thought of the idea that a crucified man could be God and Saviour. Yet God chose to give salvation through the death of His Son on a shameful cross. We must never allow ourselves to forget that the cross caused great offence to people, but neither must we forget that it is God’s power for salvation. We now consider the second of five truths which the cross teaches us:
1. The cross shows us what God thinks of sin.
2. The cross is God’s provision of salvation for sinners.
3. The cross is a revelation of God’s love.
4. The cross proves that there is only one way of being saved and coming to God.
5. The cross proves that Jesus’ claims are genuine.
We saw in the last article that Jesus’ death on the cross was a punishment for sin. When Jesus died on the cross, God laid the sins of other people on Him. The very method of execution also proved that Jesus, in His death, was suffering punishment for sin. As the Old Testament says, “anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse” (Deuteronomy 21:23). The cross shows us that God does not tolerate sin, but judges and punishes it.
But the cross is also God’s provision of salvation for sinners. This is a most wonderful fact that should give us great joy. How we need salvation! We have all gone astray. We have all rebelled against God’s authority and fallen short of the perfect standard which He requires of us. As a result, God is angry with us and pronounces a sentence of eternal destruction upon us. And yet, God in His mercy has also provided a way for us to be saved from His anger and punishment – through Christ who died on the cross. How is this?
To understand how the cross is God’s provision of salvation we need to understand the concept of a substitute. This is not difficult as we constantly make use of substitutes in everyday life. Imagine that John is playing centre forward for his soccer team. He is injured while trying to head the ball into the goals and cannot continue playing. So Stephen comes onto the field as John’s substitute. This means that he takes John’s place and does the job which John would have done. John does not need to be on the field because there is a substitute standing in for him.
The Bible teaches us that Jesus died as a substitute for sinners. This means that He died in their place, and the punishment which He suffered was on their behalf. They do not need to suffer God’s punishment because Jesus suffered it in their place:
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
The important question now is, “For whom did Christ die?” Whose sins were laid on Him, and for whom did He act as substitute? Did He bear yours? Was He my substitute? The answer is that He stood in the place of all who believe in Him. He bore the punishment of all who see their hopeless condition and run to Him for mercy and grace.
Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified [i.e. declared righteous, holy, perfect in God’s sight]. (Acts 13:38-39)
You may be forgiven for all your sins. You may be saved from God’s anger and wrath. Jesus is now seated on the throne of heaven and He invites you to come to Him, to fall at His feet, to cling to Him, to be His follower. If you do, His death will be counted as punishment for your sins and you will forever be freed from the wrath of God.
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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17 NIV)