The message of the cross is what sets Christianity apart from every other philosophical system or religion? For more than 2000 years, the facts about Jesus of Nazareth, have been proclaimed on every continent, and to every people from every walk of life. When someone considers a Christian message what exactly are they accepting or rejecting?
I had a pastor one time tell me that his congregation was afraid of the cross. What does this mean? I told him that he and they must be born again to understand the power of the cross. I told him that this is the gospel that we are to preach. Rom. 1: 16-17.
The message of the Cross of Jesus is a victory cry over all the power of darkness. The Lord Jesus once and for all defeated the devil himself and the on-going enemies of the cross. Any who says they are ashamed or afraid of the cross are still living in darkness.
The Cross
The cross-is an instrument of torture upon which Jesus died – is the most well-known symbol of Christianity. What could possibly explain a two millennium-long fixation on something so horrible. One clue is that Jesus final words on John 19:30 when He uttered as He died;” It is Finished “. That victorious declaration spoken in a mist of what looked like humiliating defeat tells us Jesus saw the events as an accomplishment. But how could a tragic end to Jesus amazing teaching miracle work mystery ministry be an accomplishment?
Jesus taught that He came to seek and save the lost. and Luke 19:10 “He said he came to give his life for many”. Mark 10:45. On the cross, a divine transaction took place. It was his life for ours – a ransom paid to buy us back from our loss condition. That’s why the day Jesus died it is called Good Friday, not tragic Friday. Jesus, death on the cross complete the work Father God gave Him to do, because his mission was not just a teach us, but to die for us. All that is left for us to do is personally accept that wonderful gift for ourselves. “God, so loved the world that he gave his only one, and only son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
The Resurrection
As grand was the accomplishment on the cross was, the story doesn’t end there. On the third day, the stone that covered the grave entrance was rolled away, and Jesus came back from the dead. He was alive, never to die again. Mark 16:6-7 “he is not here said the angel and Luke 24; 2-7 the disciples looking for him at the tomb found an empty tomb and the resurrection declared Jesus is Victor over death, humanity, most unsolved problem. By rising from the dead, He showed that even death was no match for His power. Without the resurrection, Jesus, life was unique, but his end was just like every other human being, who is ever walked to earth. Faith in him under those circumstances would be foolish– a criticism is understood by both Christianity adherence and distractors. “if Christ is not raised from the dead, your faith is futile “wrote the apostle Paul, just a few decades after this event I Corinthians 15:7. Yet in fact, the resurrection did occur. Jesus, life and mission become the most powerful events of this world has ever seen. Therefore, faith makes sense. And if we failed to trust in Him –considering what He has done for us – disbelief seems foolish. The resurrection assumes that power beyond human comprehension is available to the followers of Jesus. Everything changes when we visit the foot of the cross and stare in wonder at the open doorway to the tomb.
The Holy Spirit
And there’s more! The power of the resurrected, Jesus comes to us through his Holy Spirit. After his resurrection, Jesus told his followers that the same Holy Spirit, who showed up at his baptism, in the form of a dove would be with them and in them. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” Acts 1:8. God ‘s desire is for every Christian to have access to His personal presence and power. At Pentecost, 50 days after his resurrection, that’s what happened. What does his powerful Person do in our lives? Jesus was clear; the Holy Spirit comes on us, and dwells in us, so we may be His witnesses by being like Him.
The Holy Spirt Himself brought a two-fold ministry to the church.
• First, He empowered the church to fulfill the Great Commission given by Jesus to go and preach the message of the cross and its victory. To heal the sick and brokenhearted, and to being deliverance to the captives of Satan. Matt. 28: 16-20 and Mark 16:15-20
• Second, to increase and build the body of Christ. The character and power of Jesus has; we can have by believing in what He wrote in scripture. His Spirit produces fruit in us, and the apostle Paul describes exactly what that looks like “the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22- 23 in other words the Christian life. These characteristics demonstrate that God is at work in Jesus followers. And when we allow God to work is us His power produces these qualities in us, the natural result is that non-Christians sit up and take notice. If the fruit of the spirit is a Christian life, the fruit of the Christian life is more Christians.
The Cross, the Resurrection, and the Holy Spirit. These set Christianity apart from every other religion. Take one away, and you don’t have the whole story embrace them all and your life will never be the same.