Pastor's Pen

The Cross and Its Power

Isaiah 53:1 – 10

This prophetic declaration by Isaiah about 700 years before the birth of Jesus foretold the kind of desecration that the divine will experience for the reconciliation of the image and likeness of God to be realigned to its creator.

Isaiah called this prophetic person: “the arm of the Lord.”

Another translation says “the Power” of God.

2024 years ago, according to the Gregorian Calendar, “The arm of the Lord” or “The Power” of God incarnated.

Paul calls it the condescension of the divine into material being – Philippians 2:6 – 8.

Let’s look at the Message Translation:

6/. “He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of Himself that He had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.

7/. “When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient death – and the worst kind of death at that – a crucifixion.

Because He emptied Himself of the divine, He had to bear all that the human race has to go through because of the fall yet He overcame the downfall of the human race: sin (lusts of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life).

The writer of the book of Hebrews says concerning Jesus: “For we have not an height priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmity; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).

But to fulfill His purpose: “And shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21. 

So, to perform this duty, He had a cross to carry.

The cross is the sacrifice associated with your calling or simply put your purpose on earth.

The two intersecting beams called a cross is a physical representation (symbol) of the burden which comes with your purpose in life.

Jesus, forewarning those who will dare to follow Him said: 

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Jesus is not asking us to do what He did not do. He denied Himself of His equality with God, The Father (Godhead) and carried His cross.

The cross that Jesus carried is different from any cross that anyone of us would carry.

This vertical and horizontal beam on which intersection Jesus was crucified, tells us how He reconnected God with His image and likeness. 

That was the sacrifice for humanity which was acceptable to God. Jesus' sacrifice for humanity connects mankind back to God.

A lot of Christians hang a crucifix on their neck, on the mirror of their cars, on their rosary, even on top of church buildings without the understanding of what it means and the power it carries. Just for fashion, religiosity, and maybe for deception of unsuspecting people.

The cross which we proudly carry around or talk about is a place of defeat which produced the power of redemption. You cannot enter into the power of the cross until you get to the place of defeat. Where your flesh is crucified at the place of submission.

Don’t forget our definition of the cross: the sacrifice associated with your calling or your purpose on earth.

Jesus did not only carry His cross, He was also nailed to that cross. Every dehumanization suffered by Jesus was part of His cross (Isaiah 53:2 - 5). The nailing on that wooden cross sealed the perfection of His sacrifice.

The writer of the book of Hebrews said in chapter 12:2 – 3,

2/. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

3/. “For consider him that endure such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

The bearing of the cross and His nailing to the cross were not fun times. It was the worst kind of treatment for a vilest offender. Even though Jesus committed no sin, He was treated worse than Barabbas (seditionist and murderer). It was a grueling, unsavory, and wicked treatment of Jesus to perfect the purpose of His incarnation.

                                                                                                  Continued on Devotion page........

.. "acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness" (Titus 1:1).