MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron
Easter is past, but those of the Christian faith continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. In reality, Easter is never over, thanks be to God. However, much preaching and teaching in the early Church emphasized Christ crucified.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus had predicted the cross, though many didn't understand. "'The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away...and then they will fast'" (Mark 2:20). He was more specific while at Caesarea Philippi - "He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again" (Mark 8:31 through 9:13). At the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah stood talking with Jesus about the "departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem" (Luke 9:31). Jesus clarified the purpose of His life and death in Mark 10:45. "'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.'"
A question has nagged at me - why would One who has done so much good evoke such hostility? Possible reasons include the desire to maintain things the way they are, or an unwillingness to admit personal need, or a refusal to relinquish control. While Jesus was alive, religious leaders struggled with His growing popularity and influence. As he hung on the cross, "those passing hurled abuse at Him, saying, 'You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.' The chief priests, along with the scribes and elders, mocked Him, saying, 'He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we shall believe in Him'" (Matthew 27:39-42).
Even two thieves who were crucified with Him, and the Roman soldiers, were casting insults (Luke 23:36-37). But had Jesus yielded to any of the faulty concepts of the Messiah and saved Himself, He would have never been able to save others.
Another reason for resentment could be that Jesus was beyond people's comprehension. His love and holy life made them uncomfortable with their own failures; His wisdom and authority frightened them. His moral and ethical standards were beyond what they could tolerate. Yet, even hanging on the cross, Jesus was providing salvation for some present, as He'd promised in John 12:32. "'I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.'" One of the thieves who initially rebuked Jesus had a change of heart, and asked the Savior to allow him into the kingdom (Luke 23:42). A centurion standing in front of the cross marveled and said, "'Truly this man was the Son of God!'" (Mark 15:39).
Three faithful women, including his mother Mary, were with Jesus at the cross. Mary had known the joy of carrying the Savior of the world, she'd watched the development of His ministry, and she was surely devastated when people turned against Him. So her decision to follow Jesus that day would have been putting Him first, and Jesus recognized the difficulty of the choice. He made provision both for Mary, and for the only disciple present, as he instructed her to view John as a son. The scriptures tell us, "from that hour the disciple took her into his own household" (John 19:27).
All three synoptic gospels record supernatural events that took place on the day Jesus died, and Matthew chapter 27 contains them all: darkness fell on all Judea for three hours (verse 45); the Temple veil was torn from top to bottom, the earth shook, rocks split, and tombs opened (verses 51-52). Reading Hebrews 9:1-15 and 10:19-22 helps us understand in greater detail, as the Holy of Holies is opened by our new high priest, providing access to God for any who believe on Jesus.
What should the cross mean for us? The resurrected Jesus explained, "'These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.' Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem'" (Luke 24:44-47).
Jesus had told the disciples, "'Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends'" (John 15:13. On the cross He demonstrated love that brought Him down from heaven to a humiliating death. The cross was central to His ministry, as the Father accepted the sacrifice that Jesus willingly made. The apostle Paul explained, "For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:22,24).
Love and power carried Jesus to the cross. It is our hope that the power of the cross will bring you to Jesus.
