Contemplating the Cross

“Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NLT)

I once heard about a man who tried to start his own religion, but it did not succeed. Seeking advice, he approached the French statesman Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord and asked how he could gain followers. Talleyrand reportedly replied, “I suggest you get yourself crucified, die, and rise again on the third day.”

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the foundation of the Christian faith. This is what sets Christianity apart from every other belief system. Some may see the crucifixion as a tragic end to an otherwise successful ministry. But the cross was never an accident or an interruption. It was central to Christ’s mission from the beginning.

Jesus knew exactly where He was headed. He spoke often of His coming death. Scripture tells us that even before the world was created, it was determined that He would give His life. Revelation calls Him “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8, NLT).

At the cross, the righteous demands of God were satisfied. At the cross, humanity was reconciled to God. At the cross, Satan’s power was decisively broken. And at the cross, our salvation was secured.

Because of this, we can never speak too often of the cross, nor reflect on it too deeply.