THE “TERRIBLY WONDERFUL” CROSS

          An oxymoron is the yoking together of two words or ideas that don’t seem to belong united.  In the south it’s not uncommon to hear the expression, a “fine mess”.  Have you ever felt “absolutely unsure” of yourself in giving to someone an “absolute maybe”?   Have you ever done something that was “deliberately thoughtless”?  Have you ever been an “impatient patient”?  I saw a woman the other day wearing “baggy tights”.  I heard an “honest politician” speaking about his “unbiased predisposition” - - such “true lies” are sometimes greeted by “thunderous silence”.  A flight into Cincinnati encountered some “gentle turbulence”, but the passengers were exhorted to “act naturally”.  At a church luncheon one woman brought a “twelve ounce pound cake”.  Speaking of food, have you ever had a craving “jumbo shrimp”?  On an “altogether separate” note, I heard a protester boldly claiming that “anarchy rules”.    

          How can the cross of Christ be labeled as, “terribly wonderful”?  How can something so terrible be considered so wonderful?  The “simple but complicated” answer to this question is found in that text we all know so well - - As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (Jn.3:14-16).  The pain, the shame, and the curse that Jesus experienced on the cross was “on our behalf”.  This truth is borne out in Scripture after Scripture affirming that CHRIST DIED FOR US.   cf.  Rom.5:8;  Gal.1:4;  Eph.5:2;  1Thess.5:10;  and  Titus 2:14, among many.  Jesus stated, I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…I lay down My life for the sheep (Jn.10:11 & 15b).  On the night prior to His crucifixion Jesus inaugurated The Lord’s Supper with the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine saying: 

This is My body which is given for you and This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood (Lk.22:19-20).     

          While the suffering of the cross (physical, mental and spiritual) was terrible, that which makes it so very wonderful  is that our Lord and Savior did this FOR US.  The apostle Paul spoke of this greatest love in writing:  For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone who dare even to die.  But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom.5:7-8).  Once he grasped this significant truth, Paul became fixated on the cross of Christ  - - For I determined to know nothing among you except Christ Jesus and Him crucified (1Cor.2:2).  May the cross become our constant gaze!    

                                                                                              Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ