The Cross at the Center
Christian leader Uchimura Kanzo (1861-1930) coined a new name for Christianity - "Crucifixianity." He said, "The Cross is not merely a symbol of Christianity; it is its center, the cornerstone upon which the whole structure rests - indeed, no Cross, no Christianity."
The Cross is at the heart of the Christian message, because without it there would be no Christians. Our peace with God depends wholly on our reconciliation to God through the cross.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
Look Good on Wood
As horrific as it is for us to read or hear about the violent arrest, trial and crucifixion, it has been suggested (by the editors of Homiletics) that the news of these events was far harder on the disciples than on us. After all, we are post-Easter Christians. We can view the horror of the passion in light of the resurrection. The harder message for us to digest is, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).
Say the editors, “These are calls to sacrifice, and they intrude rudely into our safe, secure, convenient faith-lives. In the words of Father Daniel Berrigan, ‘If you want to follow Jesus, you had better look good on wood.’”
[Father Daniel Berrigan (1921 - ) is an activist priest who, through protest, poetry, and preaching, championed pacifism and social reform. For a time, he found himself on the FBI most wanted list for his anti-war activities during the Vietnam era.]
How do we look good on wood? It is only be saying “no” to ourselves that we are able to say “yes” to God and to others. This was how Jesus took the horror of the cross and turned it into something beautiful.
Wes Golden
"But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" (John 12:32).
Three Men, Three Crosses
“On the hill of Calvary, there were three crosses and three men. One man died IN sin, one man died TO sin, and one man died FOR sin.”
[Denis Lyle is an Irish Pastor/Teacher who has ministered God's Word in Australia, South Africa, and Romania as well as conducting missions and conferences in his own country. He has an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the European Theological Seminary.]
"There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us! But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?" (Luke 23:38-40).