The Cross

This morning I was challenged to consider "what I think about when I ponder the cross?" It is an interesting question. Over the years I have thought a lot about the cross that Jesus boar for my sins. As I have done that I picture the crown of thorns, the severe beating Jesus experienced at the hands of the Romans, the arduous journey from Jerusalem to Golgotha, the driving of the nails into his hands and feet, the hours of exposure on the cross, the other crucified man who cursed Jesus, the other crucified man who believed in Jesus, the men casting lots for Jesus' clothes, Jesus asking the father to forgive them, Jesus crying out to the Father, Jesus actually dying and the sword in the side to see if he is dead, the earthquake and the tearing of the curtain in the temple.

When I get real theological I start thinking about Christ being my substitutionary atonement. I think about that glorious passage in II Corinthians that describes the Great Exchange: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Those thoughts are all right and good. But today I was challenged to think along a different line. Steve Lawson in his book titled "Made In Our Image" says the following:

"Towering over mankind, the Cross is the most comprehensive revelation of God's glory. At the cross, Christ, 'the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature,' poured forth the very essence of the glory that belongs to God alone. To look upon God's Son willingly dying in our place is to gaze at the fullest disclosure of God's divine attributes. We see the unveiled glory of God fully revealed in Jesus Christ's crucifixion."

While I am still chewing on this one, I must admit that I have had a blessed day thinking about how God's holiness, justice, love, grace, mercy, sovereignty, transendence, immenence, patience, kindness, greatness, goodness, omniscience, faithfulness... were all on full display that day when Christ was crucified.

Jason