The Power of the Cross

 

 

Central thought: Without the cross of Christ there is no crown.

 

Text: Mark 8:34-38; 1Corinthians 1:17-18; Galatians 6:14

 

 

Historically, the cross is a wooden structure consisting of an upright and a transverse beam used by the ancient Romans for the execution of criminals.  It was a horrific, slow, painful and humiliating death process that was watched by many.  More broadly, a cross refers to an affliction that tries one’s virtues, steadfastness or patience, in the affairs of life.  Most importantly, today, the cross is the symbol of the Christian faith.

God in His mercy sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sin of mankind.

His death was on the cross.  By that death, the cross obtained another symbolism, from a structure of criminal execution t a symbol of hope, redemption and justification.  Therefore, the cross must never lose its place in our lives.  We must glory in the cross because it daily declares God’s undying love for a lost world.  It reminds us that salvation is not cheap, but was purchased for us by Christ at a great price.  It is necessary for us to always redirect our minds on the significance of Christ’s death on the cross.

To the Christian, taking up the cross daily entails a conscious effort to follow in the footsteps of Christ, manifesting His character and drawing strength for perseverance from the Holy Spirit.

 

 

1. Highlight some aspects of the suffering of Christ and His death on the cross. Isaiah 53:3-5: Matthew 27:11-30

The way of the cross which Jesus went through was unique in many respects, and clearly different from the logic of the world system.  First He prayed and allowed the will of God, though grievous, to be done.  He offered no resistance and rejected Peter’s violent response.  To the amazement of Pilate he did not enter a plea; neither did He put up a defense before His accusers.  He did not deny His kingship.  He was declared innocent, not guilty, yet condemned and sentenced to pacify the crowd.  The Priests and the people consented to take the guilt upon themselves and their children.  At His trial a notorious criminal was preferred and released.  His conviction and execution were all done with speed and coincided with the age-long feast of Passover, a time of redemption for God’s people.  A gentile was invited and made to share in the burden of the cross of Christ.  All these were not accidents of history, but a carefully ordained plan of salvation unfolding for all mankind.

He was stripped of His clothes, flogged, ridiculed with a scarlet robe, a crown of thorns, a wooden scepter and a mockery of homage with spitting in place or royal kiss.  He was nailed hands and foot to the wooden cross raised up and left hanging in pain.

Jesus had to die because that was the purpose of God for the redemption of mankind.  The justice of God required blood to atone for the sin of man.  Jesus had to die for this sacrifice.  Secondly he had to die to conquer death and free all the captives of death (sinners). Furthermore His death was a demonstration of the strength of His love.  This is the love that gave all for us.  Jesus died to reconcile the world back to God and to destroy the dividing wall of enmity between man and God.  He died to reconcile all races of men into one truly great and peaceful family of God.

 

2. What does it mean to take up one’s cross daily to follow Christ?

“Carrying one’s cross daily” was a figurative speech by Jesus Christ to His disciples, emphasizing the need to demonstrate enthusiasm, commitment and sacrifice as they follow Him.  The cross here refers to all providential afflictions, persecutions and every trouble that befalls us either for doing well or for refusing to do evil.  This cross is what we bear in common with Christ and it is the common lot of God’s children.  Following Christ is a deliberate choice that must be done cheerfully and resolutely.  The cross embodies the totality of the walk of the believer with the Lord Jesus Christ as the Master.  We are to bear the cross after the manner of Jesus, not in our own way, but in His steps.  The cross is personalized to each of us as we follow Christ.  The presence of Christ ahead of us will reconcile us to the challenges of persecutions and will rob such of their terror.  If we follow Him faithfully in the line of duty, we shall also share joyfully in His glory.

 

3. Explain some areas and instances of self-denial as we follow Christ.

Self-denial is what our Master Jesus professed and practiced in His time on earth.  Self-denial is the fundamental law in true discipleship.  We must deny ourselves for Christ and for the brethren.  Self-denial is to downplay one’s personality, comfort, appetites and interests for the single purpose of pleasing God and Serving the body of Christ.

Self-denial is needed in every area of life.  They could be temporal or permanent measures, depending on what is involved.  All sinful pleasures and gratifications of self must be dealt with permanently.  Our status, talents and acquisitions must not be allowed to arrogate to us undue glory and pride.  Relationships could be suspended or sacrificed to please God.

Self-denial involves giving one’s life to Jesus Christ in repentance, making sacrifices of one’s worldly rights and privileges, and being available in the service of the brethren.

 

4. What are the benefits of the cross to the believer?  Galatians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 1:17-18; Isaiah 53:5

The benefits of the Cross of Christ to the believer are numerous.

Fist the cross is a symbol of commitment to duty as assigned by God, and so it is a testament of a glorious future in eternity with God.

Secondly, the cross is the manifestation of God’s justice, by which the price of sin was paid in full and the grace of God made available to all who believe.  It is the power of God to the salvation of mankind.   Furthermore the cross brought man back into fellowship with God.  The cross is a place of death to self; a place where the sinner is slain and a new creature emerges to live the life of Christ in obedience to the Word of God.  This new life is not defined by the standard of the present world.  By the cross, the power and sting of death is destroyed and man can live forever again.  The cross restored Man’s dominion over Satan and brought liberty to all his human captives.  The cross is the manifestation of real love, unconditional love, God’s kind of love, which brings about the total health of man.

 

 

Daily living application:

From time to time, we are confronted with situations of choice between pleasing God and pleasing ourselves, seeking the welfare of someone else or serving our personal interest, accepting some indignities due to our faith or flowing along with the world in her system.  The actual choices we make shows how ready and willingly we are carrying our cross, and reflect the extent we have denied ourselves in deference to our Master Jesus Christ.  Our love for Him must reflect in our daily desires, decisions and actions. By the cross we are crucified unto us.

 

 

Memory verse

Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”