Imagine walking into your church and seeing a guillotine on the far wall. Or what about seeing your Christian friends wearing little electric chairs around their necks on pretty silver chains.
Sounds weird, doesn’t it?
Like a hangman’s noose, the cross was a way to punish evil. Criminals hung on Roman cross, suffering the ultimate torture.
If you lived back in Jesus’ day and saw a cross, it would make you shudder. You would involuntarily shudder.
So how did this symbol of torture and death become a popular symbol in all of Christendom?
Jesus, the Perfect One, fully God and fully Man, was wrongfully arrested, tortured, and murdered. An innocent man died. But, hasn’t that happened before?
Well no. Because this was not what we call an innocent man. This was the Holy One, the Messiah, God come in the flesh. He took on all our sin and suffered the wrath of God, the punishment our sins deserved.
So, the horrible thing, the cross was where our freedom was purchased. And so when we look at the cross, we see forgiveness, debts paid, mercy, grace, and an opportunity to be born-again.
The horrible cross became the beautiful cross and forever is our symbol of hope and freedom! God transformed something scary into something comforting and beautiful.
You may feel that your life is full of tragedy, brokenness, and rebellion. However, just as God transformed the cross into a beautiful thing, Jesus can transform you into something beautiful. You can be redeemed from hell and death, changed from the inside out.
It’s so easy.
Just repent and believe.
Repent. Stop heading in the direction you are heading. Ask forgiveness for your rebellion and sins. Receive His forgiveness.
Believe. Believe that Jesus paid the price for your sin on the cross. Surrender your life to him. He will give you a new heart and live inside you by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And then, like the cross, you will be transformed. Forever.
God bless you.
Love,
Meredith Curtis
