THE CROSS OF CHRIST

"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God" -- 1 Corinthians 1:18

Devotion 2 of 13

THE REAL JESUS

The cross exposes us to the real Jesus--the real Son of God--the real Savior of the world. Here we see Him as He is. God brings us to the cross to clarify the Person and purpose of His only begotten Son.

Here, at the cross, we learn what Isaiah meant when he said, "He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men . . . " (Isa 53:2-3). As long as Jesus was healing their sick and supplying food to the people, they readily received Him. But when it became apparent that He was on a higher and more lofty mission, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. The very people who once shouted out "Hosanna; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, just a few days later "cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him" (Mk 11:9-10; 15:14).

The real Jesus was on a mission from heaven, and it had been planned from the foundation of the world. Jesus is called "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev 13:8). While births are ordinarily in order to life, His was in order to death. He "came into the world to save sinners," and to do so by giving "His life a ransom for many" (1 Tim 1:l5; Matt 20:28). The Father gave Him a commandment to "lay down His life," and then to take it up again (John 10:17-18). This is the real Jesus, and this is what He came to do.

The sight of Christ upon the cross is compelling, and once our gaze is fixed upon the Christ of the cross, we will come to Him. Our vision cannot linger on that awesome sight without Divine influence being exerted upon our souls. This is the meaning of Christ's words, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die" (John 12:32-33). The penitent thief fixed his eyes on Jesus upon the cross, and came to Him, asking to be remembered when the Savior came into His kingdom (Lk 23:42). Amidst the jeering multitudes, that thief saw the real Jesus!

Jesus does not draw men by irresistible grace or coercive power. It is the beauty of the crucified Son, "lifted up from the earth," that compels us to come to Him. Understand, it is not the blood and gore of the cross that draws us, but the REASON behind it. The mutilated body of Jesus is not the power of the cross, but the spirit and purpose that compelled Him to submit to the curse of both man and God.

Christ's death was driven by an "eternal purpose," fueled by an "everlasting love," and sustained by the marvelous grace of God. The real Jesus is not a mere problem solver, sent by God to rescue you from difficult circumstances, and bring you a life of ease. His ministry to you may very well include such spiritual amenities, but that is not why he came. If you view Jesus as a sort of heavenly genie that grants your mundane desires, you are not seeing the real Jesus.

The Gospel of Christ is essentially the message of the cross. There, the "righteousness of God" is revealed in a most unique way. From one perspective, preaching the Gospel is "the preaching of the cross" (1 Cor 1:18). It is declaring why the cross was necessary–why Jesus had to be "made sin" and "made a curse" for us (2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13). The Gospel announces what was accomplished in Christ's death on the cross. In His death, he "destroyed the devil," and spoiled, or plundered, principalities and powers that had long held the world captive (Heb 2:14; Col 2:15). The cross stands for reconciliation, the making of peace, and the breaking down of the middle wall of partition that separated men from one another and from God (Eph 2:14-16).

At the point these verities become obscure, we are no longer seeing the real Jesus. When they are perceived, the real Jesus is being seen, and will draw us to Himself, as He said.

PRAYER POINT: Father, grant me grace to see the real Jesus, and to obtain all the benefits You have graciously provided in him.

– Tomorrow: THE CENTRALITY OF THE CROSS --