At the Cross

In His Name Devotionals
AT THE CROSS

Some people see the crucifixion of Jesus as the unfortunate ending to a once-promising career. Others see it as a great miscarriage of justice. And still others see it as a grand instance of martyrdom for the sake of one's convictions.

But Jesus' death on Calvary was neither unforeseen nor unexpected. As a matter of fact, it was the most prepared-for and well-announced event in history. Its meaning has to be found against the background of an event destined to take place.

Jesus came to Planet Earth to die on Calvary. He came knowing what lay ahead for Him, for the awfulness of sin could be countered only by the infinity of divine love. Here are the words of Paul on this point: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless (note: our 'powerless' state was due to sin's effects), Christ died for the ungodly (note: this is the critical point, that He died 'for the ungodly'). Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8)

Have you heard the story of the judge whose son appeared before him on a drunk-driving charge? Because he was sworn to uphold justice, the man behind the bench had to find him guilty; then he imposed the heaviest fine allowed under the law. But he immediately stepped down from his chair and paid the fine from his own pocket.

That's a tiny glimpse of what God has done for us. Unable to declare us innocent under the law and knowing we could not set right the wrongs we had done, He pronounced us "Guilty!" and imposed the law's full penalty—death. Then Jesus Christ went to the cross and paid the penalty for us.

Jumping in front of a speeding car, taking the bullet meant for your heart, suffering your hell of rejection by God and man on the cross. Select the metaphor that makes it meaningful to you. All point to the same marvelous fact of God's grace. Jesus paid the debt we owed to sin by dying in our place on the cross.

During His own lifetime, Jesus quoted an aphorism of His day about friendship and love. To His own disciples, He said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Then He proceeded to falsify it by showing us an even greater love. The love that is greater than dying for one's friends is the one that moves you to sacrifice your life for your enemies.

The cross stands as a reminder to a love greater than any ever witnessed. The beautiful and humbling thing for you to know is that it was all for you.