Power of the Cross
Dr. Saju Joseph
The power of the cross has been proved over the last more than twenty centuries in the world. The power of the cross is the power of love. The strongest emotion that moves and binds families, friends and a nation together is love. The strongest relationship in the world is ‘blood relationship’. But ‘love relationship’ is more powerful than ‘blood relationship’. The power of the cross is the power of both love and blood. It is the love of God and the power of the blood of Jesus.
The essence of the cross of Jesus is the power of God’s love for the sinful human beings. The gospel message contains the description of the crucifixion - it is not a mere description of the physical instrument called ‘cross’, but it is the description of how the Son of God suffered and died on the cross. Even the very first sermon by Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost reveals this truth.
The Cross is a great contradiction. Death and life; hate and love, violence and peace, accusation and forgiveness, sin and purity, brokenness and wholeness, all is lost yet everything is gained, destruction and restoration, defeat and victory. Once the most cruel form of execution, yet now it is a symbol of abundant life.
Christ died for sinners. He died for people who had lost their way. His death was not forced upon him. It was a choice. A choice made in love. “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8) Jesus still loves sinners. He came and gave his life for them. The message of the Cross remains a gift of love to those undeserving. Above all, the Cross is a symbol of love.
Christ hung on the cross on purpose. He could choose to live as he pleased, but he chose to give his life for our sake. Galatians 2:20 says that we have been crucified with Christ- past tense. As Christians, we are to be dead to our will, as Christ was. Our life’s prayer should be, “Not my will, yours be done.” And just like Jesus, it is our responsibility to act on our prayer. Being in the will of God is not a passive thing. It is an act of the will.
The power of the cross was not revealed by working miracles only. Jesus had worked miracles even before his crucifixion. But the need of His death on the cross was a must for the eternal redemption of mankind. Therefore the power of the cross is revealed in the salvation of the people from sin. Yes, the power of the cross is revealed through the transformation of the people through Gospel.
When a person places his/her faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, that person is forever changed! The chains of sin are broken, Rom. 6:14, and they are made into a new creature, 2 Cor. 5:17. Now, the new born believer does not have to live his life in bondage to sin, Rom. 6:6! The blood has the power to change every life touched by it! There really is wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb!
No blood washed, blood bought individual will ever experience the flames and fires of Hell! One of the most precious verses in the Bible pertaining to this subject is found in John 5:24. There, the Bible tells us that we will never come into condemnation! Romans 8:1 confirm this for us! Thank God, no child of God will ever have to go to Hell; Satan will not get his wish! That ought to cause us to rejoice always in our lives!
The blood is the key that unlocks the gates of glory! When the blood is applied, the child of God becomes instantly destined for an eternity in Heaven with the Lord! That is His promise to every believer, John 14:1-3. And, there is only one way to get to that glorious place, John 3:3;7.
Andrew Murray says, “The Righteousness of God no longer terrifies man. It meets him as a friend, with an offer of complete justification. God’s countenance beams with pleasure and approval as the penitent sinner draws near to Him, and He invites him to intimate fellowship. He opens for him treasure of blessing. There is nothing now that can separate him from God.” This is the power of the Cross!
May God help us to share the Gospel with full assurance of its wonder working power in the lives of the people in our nation and beyond!
