Cross Position: The Believer's Compassعينة

The Revelation of the Cross

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV

The Cross is not just the wooden monument representing the Christian faith but the revelation of God’s love to us - mankind.

The Cross was not the substitute plan of God. God was not reacting to man’s sin by quickly mobilizing Jesus to come to earth. God had in place a well-thought-out plan for our salvation. The Cross represents the fulfillment of this grand plan, as God Himself took on human form and paid the ultimate price for the sin of humanity.

Throughout history, mankind has relentlessly strived to attain a connection with the divine. Other religions emphasize how men seek God yet it is only in Jesus that we see God reaching out to man and reconciling the world to Himself through the Cross.

"And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross". - Colossians 1:20 AMPC

Jesus is not only the summation and central point of the entire scriptures but also the ultimate message of the Bible. Without Him, the Bible is a compendium of stories. And the Cross is the Christocentric dividing line that separates ordinary narratives from the divine revelation of God’s word.

To accurately understand the Bible, it is essential to study through the perspective of the Cross. The message of the Church today and always should be the message of the Cross. If we stray from this focus and interpret scriptures based on our personal circumstances, needs, societal contexts, or biases, we risk compromising the integrity of the Bible. We stand the risk of wrongly dividing the word of truth and communicating the same to others.

"The message we preach is not about ourselves. Our message is about Jesus Christ. We say that he is Lord. And we say that we serve you because of Jesus". - 2 Corinthians 4:5 NIRV

When we view the Bible through the lens of the Cross, the Gospel of God's Grace through Jesus is revealed. In the Old Testament, every prophet spoke about Jesus concealed. The New Testament, on the other hand, proclaims Jesus revealed. Jesus is the accuracy of the prophecies mentioned in the Old Testament.

One of such prophecies concealed is in Isaiah where people assumed that God would save them through a spectacular display of wisdom. "Since before time began no one has ever imagined, No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you who works for those who wait for him." - Isaiah 64:4 MSG

However, Paul in 1 Corinthians 2 expatiates on Isaiah’s prophecy and explains that though eyes have not seen nor ears heard nor minds perceive the things GOD has prepared, but God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. God’s salvation plan surpasses human wisdom and can only be understood by His Holy Spirit whom he gives to all who believe. (1 Corinthians 2:8-11 NKJV)

‭‭By the Holy Spirit, we come to understand that it is through the Cross that Heaven reached down to Earth; the supernatural meeting natural.

It is through the Cross that God rescued man.

It is through the Cross that God broke the hold of sin and gave man all the benefits of salvation, his new identity as a son, and a seat at God’s table! ‭‭

This is your reality today - the Cross has positioned you out of the tyranny of darkness and established you in His Kingdom!

Glory to God!

Reflection Question:

The Cross is the central point of the Scriptures. How does this impact your perception of salvation, identity, and the way you approach the Bible?