Implications of the Cross

The Healing Balm which Heals Us from the World

Matthew 27:33-38, “They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews. 38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Read Philippians 4:21, “21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

There Jesus stood, crucified. When we look to him, and look at him. He exemplified how we can respond as believers to what we can expect in this life, by means of experience by identification, and also satisfaction.

Identification: If we are faithfully following Christ, we might live in a time, when the world, and the powers of the world may not accept the message of the cross, and we may be treated like Jesus.

Jesus was rejected and scorned by the world

Jesus was despised by the rulers

Jesus was given sour and bitter treatment.

Jesus, the priceless rose of God, was treated as something without any value - crushed.

The wine of Christ’s crushing, is what heals our souls, and identifies us with the kingdom of God. We get healed from the world, inside, and it prepares us to face the world, whether, we are accepted like Nebuchadnezzar and in Caesars house, or if we are treated like Jesus.

The Exemplary Place Where We See The Father’s Love Expressed

Read Isaiah 53:10-12, “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e]; by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g] and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h] because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Not only did God have his Son provided for the world as a sacrifice for sin. But God somehow in his sovereignty, himself chose to put His very own Son to death, with the knowledge that this was the only way that redemption of man would be possible. Very similar to the garden of Eden. Why was Adam and Eve not permitted back into the garden after they sinned, and why was an angel placed there to stop from from doing so?

It most likely had to do somehow, with the possibility of getting into a place where they would forever be in their sins, without any possible way for them to escape and be redeemed. By banning them, God was also planning a way of redemption.

The gospel is preached by the Old Testament, just as much and clearly as the New. In fact, the Old Testament clarifies and only satisfies the message of the New Covenant. One story, and one sacrifice was planned.

The World Welcomed Into the Covenant

Read: Matthew 26:26-37, “26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

The bread and the blood, they are offered for the world. The 12 disciples were those who currently believed. They were the witnesses. But the cross has colossal value, that beckons and calls the world to being reconciled. This is the hope that we have. The reconciliation of the world. The world, and anyone who would take and make the decision to identify with the message of Jesus, can enter into the covenant of his redeeming sacrifice. This is where the mystery of God’s sovereignty is at play.

The world did it, but God also did it. And all the while, the world, is beckoned and called.

By result, Jesus said, we are with him, or against him. And if we are against him, we automatically place ourselves in the wrong side of history.

Where do you stand?

God bless!