Subject: THE DEATH OF THE CROSS
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007
DEAR FOLKS,
Thanks for praying for me, Monday was not a pleasant day. Today is better but I am not walking straight. I am not sure about my thinking, so if this makes no sense, consider it came from a drunk man.
Someone has asked me to enlarge the print of the devotions, I hope I can remember to continue to do so.
Philippians 2:8
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
The cross was one of the cruelest ways for a person to die. In the U.S. there is a dilemma over the way capital punishment is carried out. It is argued that when we execute a person for crimes committed that we should make it as comfortable as possible for him. Imagine killing a man who deserves to die because of crimes committed and arguing over his comfort while dying. America is the only place in the world that would entertain such an idea. In some countries they chop a man’s hand off for stealing. They do not put him to sleep to do it. When they hung Saddam Hussein they did not give him one of these “don’t care” shots before they pulled the leaver. Let’s notice some things about the cross of Christ—
THE CROSS IS FRIGHTENING
Here we have the most cruel of all ways to kill a person. This suffering was prolonged as much as possible so that those who observed could watch the horrible sufferings of the person. To me this is a frightening scene.
It is also frightening in that a society has come to the place where they take pleasure in the death of the wicked. How cruel are the people when they are so swift to shed blood? It is frightening because such a sinless Person could be nailed to a cross. We may be next. You see you don’t have to be guilty to be put to a cruel death.
THE CROSS IS CONVICTING
It is convicting because as we read of that cross we realize that our sins caused that death. Jesus did not die for His sins, He had none; HE died for ours. For us to reject Christ as our Saviour is to join the crowd that literally crucified Him.
THE CROSS IS POWERFUL
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The believer glories in the cross because he has experienced that marvellous power.
A martyr was fastened to the stake, and the sheriff who was to execute him expressed his sorrow that he should persevere in his opinions and compel him to set fire to the pile. The martyr answered, “Come and lay your hand on my heart, and see if it does not beat quietly.” His request was complied with, and he was found to be quite calm. “Now,” he said, “Lay your hand on your own heart, and see if you are not more troubled than I am. Then go your way, and instead of pitying me, pity yourself.”
It takes the power of the Cross to change a lost sinner into this kind of a saint.
May each of us glory in the death of the cross and allow that to change us into His likeness.
