The Cross of Christ

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Text: Galatians 3:10-14

The greatest thing that ever took place was also the most tragic.
It is hard to believe that the two could be one in the same and yet that is what the cross of Jesus Christ is all about.
I want us this morning to simply look at four ways the cross serves as both a symbol of tragedy and one of honour to all of us who have bowed down before it.

Jesus Christ is the central figure of everything important to the Christian: history, church, Lord's table, our contribution and the Bible. He is the central most important figure to ever grace the surface of the earth, why?
Luke 19:10- The Son of man has come to seek and save that which is lost.

Only Jesus Christ came to do that and only Jesus Christ could come and do that. No one else, not even the likes of John the Baptist, Elijah, Moses, Abraham, Buddha, and Muhammad!
Only Jesus of Nazareth could save the lost!

As Jesus is the central figure in the world, the cross on which he died is the central instrument. For Jesus to perform what he set out to do, at least one tree had to be cut down and made into the old rugged cross. It is the most important piece of lumber throughout all eternity. No tree had a greater place in history than the one Jesus was to die on.

So, what I want us to do this morning is to first look at the reasons why the cross was a detestable thing and then why today it is known as the old rugged cross which we Christians love so dear.
To understand how wonderful the cross really is, I think we have to also understand how terrible it was.
  1. The cross of execution was a symbol of shame! Galatians 3:10-14!
    Notice how Paul said, Jesus had to become a curse for us. Why a curse?
    The cross of execution was a shameful thing. Take note of this trial in which Jesus who was so pure and holy had to die a shameful death. Even his own law declared it to be so in Deuteronomy 21:22,23. Perhaps this is the emphasis Paul is placing in Philippians 2:8?
    How hard would it be for us to choose to die in a shameful manner?
    Yet, Jesus willingly did that!
  2. The cross of execution was a symbol of suffering. Matthew 27:32, John 19:17
    - notice there is no glee in the hour oof death for our Saviour. He had to ENDURE the cross! Isaiah 53:4- he was beaten.
  3. The cross of execution was a symbol of our weakness!
    Romans 5:6- we were without strength. Every time I look up at the cross and see Jesus, I need to recognize that it was my weakness that put him there.
    1 Corinthians 1:29-31- I can never glory because Jesus had to die for me.
  4. The cross of execution was a symbol of our guilt!
    The terror of the cross and Jesus going to that tree in such a shameful was brings me to the point of shame. It was not his shame that caused the cross but mine.
    Isaiah 53:5- he took our guilt.
My friends what makes the cross so beautiful this morning is because of the terribleness of it all. When we think of the cross, two tears need to stream down our cheeks: one a tear of sadness and the other a tear of joy. The cross is no longer the cross of execution but has become the cross of life. We rejoice in the cross because the terror it once represented has given way to the hope it now gives.

  1. The cross of life is now a symbol of glory!
    We don't look at the death of Jesus with shame but we glory in it. Galatians 6:14- the cross is all we glory in, we who deserved to die have found life because he did die!
    Hebrews 9:12- he obtained eternal redemption for us through it!
  2. The cross of life is now a symbol of protection from suffering!
    It was there on that tree that my Saviour died for you and me. While it meant he had to suffer terribly, it now means that we can avoid the suffering of sin!
    Romans 6:23- we don't have to pay sins debt! The blood of Jesus is so precious to us, it saved our lives!
  3. The cross of life is now a symbol of strength!
    Titus 2:14- we can now go on to good works. Not only does it give us strength, but also we can feel the strength of God!
    Hebrews 7:25- there is no one beyond the saving power of Jesus. There is power in the blood!
  4. The cross of life is now a symbol of innocence!
    This is not an innocence of our own, but one we receive through the cross. Matthew 26:28- only through the shedding of blood can we have this innocence.
At the cross at the cross where I first saw the light and the burden of my years rolled away, it was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.

Will you see the cross this morning as it really is?
One last thing, it is the cross today that His church must preach, 1 Corinthians 1:17,18,23, 2 Corinthians 4:5
Will you come and surrender to the man who died on the old rugged cross?

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