have you ever just simply sat down and ponder the cross in all its’ power and victory?
the cross is what made a way for me. the cross is where Jesus paid it all.
I have thought more and more about the cross lately, the power it holds, and the victory it gives. the cross is where the gospel comes to life. think about that, guys. God sent His only Son to be nailed to a tree so we could have life. not this superficial life we have created here on earth, but a life spent on the streets of gold with our Father living with no more pain and no more tears.
the power and victory within the cross exceeds far past anything I can comprehend. Jesus hung on that tree, suffering in anguish for me – for you. barely breathing, ripped to shreds, thirsting, His wrists and feet nailed to a tree with thorns piercing into His skull… for me – for you.
those three nails hold so much power. the nails did not just prick the surface of Jesus’ wrists and feet, rather they penetrated through His skin, bones, muscles, and deep into the wood to hold the weight – not just the weight of himself, but the weight of the world and our sin.
those penetrations, those nails were for me and for you. think about this for a minute – those nails pierced Jesus, a perfect and innocent Man because of my sins, my wrongdoings when they should have pieced in my skin, my bones, my muscles, and deep into my heart.
y’all this is the gospel.
those three nails give so much victory. our eternity of heaven or hell lies within that tree and those nails. our choice to follow Jesus lies in the realness of the cross: Jesus hung suffering for me – for you.
the power and victory of the cross is not only where Jesus died, but also where every single sin died. He paid it all – everything – all of it, paid. paid in full. He defeated death. He defeated the enemy. we can stand in victory because of the cross.
this is reconciliation. He reconciled it all, the bridge was made at the cross for us to have a relationship with the God of the universe.
this is restoration. we, in our flesh can be restored and made new at the cross through the power of Jesus.
we don’t deserve this. we could never earn this. BUT because of the goodness of Jesus and the graciousness of our Heavenly Father, we have the gift of salvation. God in all His mercy and sovereignty sent His only Son to the cross for me – for you, because of His unconditional, never faltering love for His children.
how can we know this and believe this, yet fail to share the perfect, good news of the gospel? how can we go from day to day without fully living in the goodness of Jesus? embracing him each and every day, loving him with our every part of our being, serving him and his people endlessly, and sharing this perfect, life-changing news to the world?
the reality of the cross, the reality of its’ power, and the reality of its’ victory should not only compel us, but penetrate our hearts to abide and live in His power, His goodness, His sovereignty, and His victory. we are victors through the blood of the lamb, through a man named, Jesus.
but I’m afraid our lives fail to represent the cross – its’ power and its’ victory, and a man named, Jesus.
I urge you to start pursuing this man named, Jesus because your world will be forever changed. but more importantly, He’s goodness and graciousness will penetrate your heart, and compel you to share the power and the victory of the cross.
lovingauthentically 