The Cross-road
In the ministry of Jesus Christ there came and ending...and a beginning. It was the cross. There at the cross the life of Christ was ended. The Pharisees believed they were ending the ministry of Jesus. The Romans believed they were staving off sedition. The disciples were confused and frightened. They heard Jesus tell them that this would happen and yet somehow they could not absorb it.
At the cross Jesus presented Himself a spotless sacrifice as the Lamb of God. At that cross God poured upon Him, into Him, all the sins of mankind. The connection between Father and Son was broken as Jesus became sin. Then, having done all, Christ proclaimed that "It is finished" and died.
Historians affirm all of this. One does not need the Bible to read about the life, death and burial of Jesus of Nazareth. There really is no controversy about the reality of Jesus as an historical figure.
It is at the cross where people part. The cross is like a crossroads where man approaches an intersection, the intersection of the cross and the person of Jesus the Christ.
The Intersection
If you can picture the cross and imagine it like a crossroad out in the country. There at the intersection is a four-way stop. You drive to the intersection, stop, and there must go left, right, or straight. Here is the intersection of the Word of God and Jesus Christ with the heart and mind of mankind.
Rejection
Many go left. The road sign is an arrow with the word "rejection" printed in bold. Here is where atheists, agnostics, skeptics and those who simply have no interest will turn. They turn away from the idea of a Savior or even the need of a Savior. They turn away from a Creator God. They go on their way, away from the intersection and away from Christ.
Acknowledgement
Many also go right. The sign going this way says "acknowledgement". Some who go this way believe that it will lead to the same destination that the straight road leads to and it seems shorter or better to them. Many who go this way go to church, many call themselves Christians. Many simply mentally assent to the idea of God or Jesus or both and go no further. Down this road are good people piling up good works, trusting in the quality of their life for their salvation. Some are sure that simply assenting to the idea of a God is all that is needed. Some depend on ritual and church attendance. Some believe that a good God will send everyone to heaven. This road gets a lot of traffic.
Atonement
There are a few who continue straight on. These are they who not only acknowledge God but also acknowledge their need for a Savior. Here on this road there is no credit for a good life, for church membership, for ritual or time spent volunteering or funds given to the needy. To go this way, one gives up all pride, all possibility of dependence on self or anything else. One who goes this way knows that he needs forgiveness for sins and salvation through the atonement of another. These are the ones who depend entirely on Christ for salvation.
Matthew 7:13-14 (King James Version)
"13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
After the Cross
Jesus Christ rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples on Sunday. He showed them the nail and spear scars that marked His body. For the Romans, reports of His resurrection were at first a mere annoyance. Later, Christians would become a hated sect that Rome would persecute. The Pharisees were alarmed at the resurrection and sought to spread rumors that the followers of Christ had stolen His body in order to start more troubles. They would begin the persecution of Christians almost immediately although nothing they did could stop an army of believers from growing and spreading the news.
During those times, just as now, there were three groups. Those who were not interested in Christ, those who opposed Him and those who followed Him. You are in one of those groups.
I believe all people arrive at this crossroad at least once in their lives. It is likely that if you have taken a left or a right before, you may yet find yourself at the same crossroad again and again. God has a way of making those roads turn back to the intersection, giving mankind yet another opportunity to take the straight way. Hoping that we will choose Him this time. You may find yourself there time and time again until you either go straight or become so inured to the choice that you can no longer see the crossroad at all.
Many times I turned left or right. Usually I turned left, as an agnostic, a seeker, wondering what truth might be but being very skeptical of the cross and the Christ. Sometimes I went right, hoping that my life would tilt the scales towards good rather than bad.
Eric Clapton and Cream sang the Robert Johnson song, "Crossroads" and I had it on an album, played it and sang to it and drummed to it time and time again. I knew the lines:
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
Down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
Asked the Lord above for mercy, "Save me if you please."
One day I knew with certainty the truth of the lyrics. I knew my need for atonement and I received salvation. I had to give up any ability I had and all the pride I had and admit that I needed God. I asked the Lord to save me if He pleased.
Now Easter is more than colorful Easter Eggs and chocolate bunnies and getting dressed up for church in nice, new clothes. It goes beyond a big family meal. My whole life is different because one man went willingly to His cross and bled and died there, taking my sins into death with Him. But much more than that, because that same man was the Son of God, who could defeat sin and death and come back to life and in doing so, offer me a new life as well. A life that overcomes sin by the grace of God.
Thank you, Jesus, for coming to live and die and then live again for me. You led a perfect life, which I could not do, and presented to God the Father a perfect sacrifice, once for all dying for all mankind to be free of the stain of sin and death, then rising once for all who will receive the gift of Your atonement for them.
The straight way. The part of the cross, when, having been set into the ground pointed up to the heavens. It still points the way.
May God bless and keep you today!
At the cross Jesus presented Himself a spotless sacrifice as the Lamb of God. At that cross God poured upon Him, into Him, all the sins of mankind. The connection between Father and Son was broken as Jesus became sin. Then, having done all, Christ proclaimed that "It is finished" and died.
Historians affirm all of this. One does not need the Bible to read about the life, death and burial of Jesus of Nazareth. There really is no controversy about the reality of Jesus as an historical figure.
It is at the cross where people part. The cross is like a crossroads where man approaches an intersection, the intersection of the cross and the person of Jesus the Christ.
The Intersection
If you can picture the cross and imagine it like a crossroad out in the country. There at the intersection is a four-way stop. You drive to the intersection, stop, and there must go left, right, or straight. Here is the intersection of the Word of God and Jesus Christ with the heart and mind of mankind.
Rejection
Many go left. The road sign is an arrow with the word "rejection" printed in bold. Here is where atheists, agnostics, skeptics and those who simply have no interest will turn. They turn away from the idea of a Savior or even the need of a Savior. They turn away from a Creator God. They go on their way, away from the intersection and away from Christ.
Acknowledgement
Many also go right. The sign going this way says "acknowledgement". Some who go this way believe that it will lead to the same destination that the straight road leads to and it seems shorter or better to them. Many who go this way go to church, many call themselves Christians. Many simply mentally assent to the idea of God or Jesus or both and go no further. Down this road are good people piling up good works, trusting in the quality of their life for their salvation. Some are sure that simply assenting to the idea of a God is all that is needed. Some depend on ritual and church attendance. Some believe that a good God will send everyone to heaven. This road gets a lot of traffic.
Atonement
There are a few who continue straight on. These are they who not only acknowledge God but also acknowledge their need for a Savior. Here on this road there is no credit for a good life, for church membership, for ritual or time spent volunteering or funds given to the needy. To go this way, one gives up all pride, all possibility of dependence on self or anything else. One who goes this way knows that he needs forgiveness for sins and salvation through the atonement of another. These are the ones who depend entirely on Christ for salvation.
Matthew 7:13-14 (King James Version)
"13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
After the Cross
Jesus Christ rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples on Sunday. He showed them the nail and spear scars that marked His body. For the Romans, reports of His resurrection were at first a mere annoyance. Later, Christians would become a hated sect that Rome would persecute. The Pharisees were alarmed at the resurrection and sought to spread rumors that the followers of Christ had stolen His body in order to start more troubles. They would begin the persecution of Christians almost immediately although nothing they did could stop an army of believers from growing and spreading the news.
During those times, just as now, there were three groups. Those who were not interested in Christ, those who opposed Him and those who followed Him. You are in one of those groups.
I believe all people arrive at this crossroad at least once in their lives. It is likely that if you have taken a left or a right before, you may yet find yourself at the same crossroad again and again. God has a way of making those roads turn back to the intersection, giving mankind yet another opportunity to take the straight way. Hoping that we will choose Him this time. You may find yourself there time and time again until you either go straight or become so inured to the choice that you can no longer see the crossroad at all.
Many times I turned left or right. Usually I turned left, as an agnostic, a seeker, wondering what truth might be but being very skeptical of the cross and the Christ. Sometimes I went right, hoping that my life would tilt the scales towards good rather than bad.
Eric Clapton and Cream sang the Robert Johnson song, "Crossroads" and I had it on an album, played it and sang to it and drummed to it time and time again. I knew the lines:
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
Down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
Asked the Lord above for mercy, "Save me if you please."
One day I knew with certainty the truth of the lyrics. I knew my need for atonement and I received salvation. I had to give up any ability I had and all the pride I had and admit that I needed God. I asked the Lord to save me if He pleased.
Now Easter is more than colorful Easter Eggs and chocolate bunnies and getting dressed up for church in nice, new clothes. It goes beyond a big family meal. My whole life is different because one man went willingly to His cross and bled and died there, taking my sins into death with Him. But much more than that, because that same man was the Son of God, who could defeat sin and death and come back to life and in doing so, offer me a new life as well. A life that overcomes sin by the grace of God.
Thank you, Jesus, for coming to live and die and then live again for me. You led a perfect life, which I could not do, and presented to God the Father a perfect sacrifice, once for all dying for all mankind to be free of the stain of sin and death, then rising once for all who will receive the gift of Your atonement for them.
The straight way. The part of the cross, when, having been set into the ground pointed up to the heavens. It still points the way.
May God bless and keep you today!