THE POWER OF THE CROSS | Northstar Church

“But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.” – Isaiah 53:10 (NIV)

The cross has become an icon. It’s everywhere, on everything. We wear it around our necks, hang it on our walls as decoration, and place it on the side of the road to memorialize lives lost. The cross is omnipresent in our culture, but do we truly grasp its power and implications?

In Biblical times, the cross caused great distress. It was the symbol of ultimate torture and cruelty—human crucifixion. The writers of the Bible didn’t include the horrific details about what happened to the human body during crucifixion because they didn’t need to. Those who lived in fear of this barbaric death penalty knew all too well its effects. Besides, no words could adequately describe the experience of crucifixion.

As we reflect on the cross, we find ourselves both in awe and surprised by how much of the cross we don’t understand. There is a line in the song “Here I am to Worship,” written by Tim Hughes where it says, “I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.” Yes, we know Jesus is our Redeemer, but do we truly know the magnitude of the cost? I don’t think we can even come up with a figure or currency to match the price that was paid to redeem us.

The message of the cross is that we don’t have to possess any special qualifications. There are no hoops to jump through. You are invited whether you are rich or poor, young or old, no matter your race, gender, or the sin in your heart. Jesus sacrificed His life for all who would come to Him. Jesus destroyed all barriers so everyone could come to the foot of the cross.

The cross is the greatest exhibition of love ever seen. When we come to the cross we find refuge, hope, safety, and joy. The power of the cross allows us to join with Paul and say: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). That is the power of the cross.

Is there anything we can offer Jesus as we stand at the cross? We can offer Him our love and devotion. We can bring praise and worship. We can come to the cross with a renewed appreciation for His incredible love and a renewed commitment to sharing His love and His story with the people we interact with.

So, understanding the cross fully is nearly impossible, but if that’s making you worry, don’t. It’s meant to show how an indescribable God lavished an indescribable love on us by hanging Himself upon a cross so that we would be set free.

Discussion Questions:

What is the hardest part of the cross for you to understand? Why?
What can we do this week to better understand and appreciate the significance of the cross?