Does the Cross Make Sense?

Dealing With Unity

Devotion for Good Friday, April 7, 2023

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. — Matthew 27:50

Jesus once said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Living a life completely “under the cross” does not make much sense in a culture obsessed with personal satisfaction. We don’t want to deny ourselves of anything.

The cruel Roman tool of execution on the cross had one purpose—DEATH. After all the tumultuous events after Jesus’ arrest in the garden, including the mock trial before the Sanhedrin, the beatings, the appearances before Herod and Pilate, the crown of thorns and the scouring, the journey to Golgotha and finally the six hours of torture on the cross, it suddenly got quiet, when Jesus “gave up the ghost” (gave up His spirit). Because of His relationship with the Father, this meant an end to all suffering and pain. The load had been carried. Jesus’ lifeless body was put in the tomb. We know how the story ends. Jesus rises. The stone is rolled back. Angels proclaim that He has risen.

We spend a lot of time running from death in our lives. We allow it to be our chief phobia. Yet for the Christian, we never dissect death from resurrection. In Jesus, death doesn’t get the last word. Life does! Because of the cross of Jesus, sin is gone. Where sin is gone, its ugly companion of death is defeated too. “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15 On this day, we thank our God for the cross!

Written by Rev. Phil Krupski