The cross of Jesus is offensive to some, ridiculous to others, irrelevant to many, and glorious to millions. God becomes man, dies on a tree, where He bears on His human body the sins, the sorrows, the weaknesses, and the sicknesses of this world. By His bearing of these things, they are expunged, removed, absorbed, taken away from those who are plagued by them. This is a strange message, is it not?
It is becoming vogue for some theologians to describe the cross as "divine child abuse." They contend that it is abusive of God to punish His own son for the sins of His other creatures. If a man has two sons, and one does evil, it would be abuse to punish the other. On top of that, it wouldn't do any good, for the guilty son gets off without discipline. This is how the argument goes. Such an argument raises good questions. But it also breaks down in crucial points (for example, the Bible never claims that God has two sons. He only has One. The One dies for for the human creatures in order to make them potential children of God. Also, the issue is not discipline or teaching humans to behave, it is redemption).
It can seem odd to the world that the anger of God towards mankind is poured out on His only Son. How is that fair? It's not fair, of course. That's the point. It is free and unfair. We are unfairly treated. If we were fairly treated, we'd be on the tree and we'd face the anger of God ourselves.
This cross can seem very strange indeed. On the cross, so the story goes, God pours His own anger on His Son. He is not saving us from sins, or from sorrow, or from the devil. He is saving us from God. God is saving us from God. God is the enemy of mankind. He is the One to fear. Yet, this Enemy, who has overwhelming power over us, obviously, has even more overwhelming kindness. He gives us what is not fair. He pours His wrath out on Himself.
Yes, the cross doesn't make much sense, does it?
It was there, mankind was ransomed.
It was there, that the scores were evened, and all debts were paid.
It was there that the blood of the Savior was the sacrifice that satisfied the anger of God against us all.
So, we Christians tell this to the world. How does that make any sense?
The Cross of Christ: for many it is foolish, odd, irrelevant, jewelry, silly, for the uneducated, offensive.
The Cross of Christ is the solution. It is the answer. It is the demonstration of God's love to a world that isn't kind. It is the center of the universe, the center of history, and will be the dominating theme of mankind until He ends time.
Life begins at the cross.
"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." --1 Corinthians
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes," --Romans
2 comments:
Brings to mind a story I heard once. I'll go ahead and type it, though I'll probably butcher it.
A man worked for the railroad, and was in charge of operating a drawbridge that the train crossed. He had one child, a son, and took him to work with him one day. The time was approaching, where the tracks would have to be lowered for the train. As the man and the boy climbed up the ladder to the control tower, the man's watch fell. His son reached for it and lost his grip, falling down with the watch into the giant gears of the drawbridge. The man could hear the train approaching, and while looking down on his badly injured son, realized he did not have the time to save his son and get back to lower the tracks. Tears streaming down his face, the man lowered the tracks, crushing his son to death, as the train flew by. Hundreds of passengers on their way home from work, shopping, doctor's appointments, had no idea the sacrifice the man had just made. He gave up the life of his only son, so that they could live.
Today, I'm sure, that the man would have done jail time for child endangerment. The day is soon, when Satan will be well supported by the majority in his accusations and attempted trial of God.
Hi Andy,
yeah, I have heard that story too, and must admit it creates a moral dilemma. I have to admit, if it were me, the people on that train probably wouldn't have had a very good day!
But although that might reach towards the emotions of God's love, it is still much different than the love of God. With God, there was no accident causing the death of His Son. Indeed, the Bible says it "pleased God to crush Him" for it was the working out of His great plan to save.
likewise, the calamity that overcame the boy in the story was random, without evil intent behind it. Jesus, on the other hand, died at the hand of mankind, innocent though He was. The malice of man and all the forces of evil were against him.
Also, the people on the train cared not at all about whether or not they had a relationship with the man or the son. God made us. He made us to need Him to be satisfied (which is a good and joyful need). He gives us access to Himself through His Son. The sacrifice of the Son makes God approachable to us for it makes us holy.
God's goal in giving up His Son results in our know Him on good terms. The Son's motivation is the joy that awaits beyond the cross when redemption is finished.
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