The Power Of The Cross

Gethsemane

Christ went to the garden alone while the dew is heavy on the cold darkness around Him. In agony He pours out His burdened soul to His Father...Oh Father let this cup pass from me, but not my will but thine be done. Grieved in His spirit, Christ knows He must accomplish the purpose for which He was born, for which he came into this sinful world.... The Cross! He must trod this path alone. He must carry the weight of a sinful world upon His shoulders.

Here in the garden the greatest battle between good and evil rages to its peak. Our salvation hangs in the balance. Satan is there in this bitterest hour of Christ’s temptation, urging upon Him that man is not deserving of salvation. But the Savior of the world presses ever closer to the strength of heaven and forges on to sacrifice His life for those He loves.

The Trial

Those who have sought His life now persecute Him without mercy. Humiliated rejected, abused and betrayed by those He came to save and by those He loves, His heart aches as each cruel lash cuts deep into His weakened body. Stripped of His own garments, they place a rob of mockery upon His wounded shoulders and beat a crown of thorn into His bleeding brow. Behold the King of the Jews! If only they had known. If only they had realized that before them sits the King of the Universe, their Savior, their Messiah, the one they had waited for, longed for, hoped for, and they knew Him not. The time of His visitation had come and they were unprepared to recognize Him, to welcome Him, to give Him the honor and glory He deserved. He who knew no sin was now to become sin for all mankind, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Pilot tries to calm the angry mob by scourging Jesus, but to no avail. Urged on by the unseen power of Satan they cry ever louder “crucify Him”, “crucify Him”. Their choice is made, Christ’s fate is sealed; Thus begins His tedious journey to Calgary.

The Crucifixion

The cross that had been prepared for the sinner was now place upon the weary shoulders of the sinless one of the universe. The frenzied mob follows the procession. Many who have been healed by the tender touch of the Savior gaze on with compassion and wonder. Others mock and revile Him for His inability to carry His heavy burden, the cross on which He must die. Several times He struggles to push on, but His weakened frame can endure no more. Divine providence leads Simon of Cyrene to this horrible scene. Watching in amazement He is suddenly forced to carry the cross for a man he has only heard of, in whom he does not believe. This burden for Simon is an unwanted duty, but later it would be His greatest privilege. The hateful words of the priests urge the angry mob ever onward to hasten this cruel death for which they had plotted and planned.

Arriving at the place of execution, there awaits the victims the most cruel torture. The disciples still cherished in their hearts the hope that Christ would manifest His power and save Himself. Were their hopes of Him as their Messiah about to be dashed? They still did not understand the full significance of what was taking place. They did not yet understand the words of Christ as He foretold His death, burial and resurrection. They watch as the nails are driven deep into His hands and feet and the cross forcefully dropped into the ground. Oh the pain and suffering he endured! Will we ever understand? For all to see, Christ now hangs upon this cruel cross an emblem of suffering and shame, of sin and disgrace. In humble subjection He now lays down His life for lost humanity. But even in His hour of pain, love endures and He cries out “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.

The Resurrection

The darkness of death cannot hold Him. The Sabbath has past, and the first day of the week dawns with new hope and new life for all humanity. The Savior has risen! Satan has lost! Death and sin have been conquered no more to have dominion over mankind as we stand at the foot of the cross and claim the mighty victory of Him who died to set us free! Oh the men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:9.