Loving greetings to the readers of Viswasi in the blessed name of Jesus Christ!
Beloved, if we are heirs to a blessed hope today, it is because of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Cross is the praise and fame of a Christian. The Cross is the central place of all revelations. The Cross at Calvary is a place where the burden of the sins of the whole human race is laid down.
One of the two thieves crucified along with Jesus Christ did not see the radiance of resurrection. But, he did see the glory of the crucified Christ. This revelation prompted him to plead with Him: “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom”. When Jesus said “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” and gave up the ghost, the sun was darkened, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom, the earth quaked, the rocks rent and the graves were opened. The centurion who was witness to all this said, “Truly this was the son of God”.
The Cross is the place where the love of God which forgets and denies self to work for the establishment of God’s kingdom and salvation of humanity is revealed. The Cross also unveils the glory of man’s filial relationship with God which is his birthright. The greatness of God’s infinite family is expressed on the Cross. The Cross is central to the correct course of world history.
The fulfillment of God’s purpose can be seen on the Cross of Jesus Christ “whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through the faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God”(Romans 3: 25). Paul’s words in this verse clearly portray the significance of the blood, shed by Christ on the Cross. The Cross is the manifestation of God’s love and righteousness. As sinners, we don’t deserve to be loved; “But, God commendeth His love towards us, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans5: 8). Paul while preaching gospel focused on the Cross-“…the Jews require a sign and the Greek seek after wisdom: But, we preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:22, 23).
For salvation it is not enough that we have the vision of the Infant Jesus lying in the manger, but, we should have the vision of Christ nailed on the cross. If Israelites who were bitten by the fiery serpents in the deserts were saved by the serpent of brass put on a pole by Moses, then any one made a sinner by the bite of the serpent Satan can get saved by looking at Jesus who was raised on the Cross two thousand years ago. Let us pray that everyone become a member of God’s family by looking at the crucified Jesus Christ.
May the glory of Christ’s Cross fill the whole earth!
Pastor M. SamuelKutty
