The Beauty of The Cross

We live in a culture that wants to fashion Jesus into something he is not.  And really, there’s not been a culture since the birth of Jesus over 2,000 years ago that hasn’t tried to do that.  It shouldn’t surprise us.  Yelling and criticizing don’t help.  Trying to win the internet by having Facebook and Twitter arguments doesn’t cut it either.  And believe me, I’ve done enough of both. 

What the world needs is Jesus.  And the way that the world will discover the fullness of the grace and truth of Jesus is through followers of Jesus who will stay the course, even when it seems like faithfulness to Jesus is useless or hopeless.  Remember the words that the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:18a: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing . . .”  Those words are as true today as they were 2,000 years ago. 

In today’s reading from John 1, the Apostle John (not the same dude as John the Baptist) paints for us a beautiful theological picture of the implications of the incarnation – when The Word became flesh and made His home among us.  The culture into which Jesus was born was filled with darkness, and many who saw and heard him chose to remain in darkness.  The culture into which Jesus was born was filled with people who were dying to live and crying out for life, and many who saw and heard him chose to remain on a course of death.  The culture into which Jesus was born was filled with people who were starving for grace and truth, and many who saw and heard him chose to reject what He offered. 

John the Baptist, who came to prepare the way for Jesus was like us in many respects.  V.23 tells us that he was “ . . . a voice of one calling in the desert . . .”  John’s faithfulness to Jesus and his commitment to ushering in the Kingdom of God made him different from the culture around him.  He knew that he himself was not the Christ, but he knew that he had been chosen by God to represent Christ to the world and point the way to Him.  He was among those in v.12, “who received him . . . who believed in his name,” and received from Jesus, “. . . the right to become children of God.” 

Make no mistake about it, our culture is becoming increasingly hostile to the message of the cross and resurrection of Jesus.  But as it was for John the Baptist; the disciples of Jesus; the apostles in the Book of Acts and the saints who have gone on before us in victory and glory; this is a divine opportunity for us to bear witness to who Jesus really is.

And with that opportunity comes a great responsibility for those of us who have received him, believed in his name and have been added to the family of God: We must not forget the beauty of the cross of Jesus and we must not neglect telling the world who Jesus really is.  

In v.v. 19-28, we see that John the Baptist is undergoing some pretty tough questioning from some of the Jews and religious leaders of the day in regards to who Jesus really is.  John knew that he was not the Christ (v.20); that he was nothing compared to Jesus; but that he had a great responsibility and opportunity to declare who Jesus really is. 

Jesus is not your homeboy.  Jesus isn’t somebody who pats you on the head and says, “There, there; please continue on with your life of sin and disobedience.”  Jesus isn’t somebody who is indifferent to right and wrong.  Jesus isn’t somebody who is unconcerned with suffering and injustice.  Jesus isn’t somebody who said, “I’m going to promise you sunshine, lollipops and rainbows every day of your life if you just trust in me.” 

In v.29, John the Baptist tells us who Jesus really is: “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  This is a description of Jesus by John the Baptist that summarizes the theological truth that John the Apostle wrote about Jesus in v.14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus The Lamb is full of grace because he died in our place on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  He bore the punishment for our sin on his shoulders.  He endured the cross for us and shows us the true meaning of grace. 

Jesus The Lamb is full of truth because in his death on the cross he shows us the truth of our need for a Savior.  If there’s no such thing as sin, there’s no need for a Savior.  If our sin hasn’t separated us from God and made us his enemies, there’s no need to be reconciled to God by The Lamb. 

The cross of Jesus is a big deal and it must be a big deal to us.  One of my favorite follows on Twitter is Pastor Kevin DeYoung from Lansing, MI.  Last week he Tweeted out this thought: “When we get to heaven and see the Lamb who was slain no one will be embarrassed for making too much of a bloody cross.” 

Perhaps the greatest irony of the life of faith is the beauty of the Cross.

The cross of The Lamb of God is where life begins for us when we come as sinners in repentance and leave as saints who have been forgiven and justified by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. 

The cross of The Lamb of God is where healing happens deep in our hearts and minds as we see the suffering of the Lamb of God and know that by his wounds we are healed.

The cross of the Lamb of God is where our adoption as the sons and daughters of God happens because our enmity towards God is taken away and we fall in worship, adoration and love. 

The cross of the Lamb of God makes possible the resurrection of Jesus, where he conquered sin, death and hell one time once and for all. 

Although the cross may be foolishness to some, “ . . . to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:18b