Introduction
There is much darkness in the world, and it seems that all of our solutions for getting rid of it comes up short. We try to make sense of the suffering, the pain, the evil, and the injustice that we see around us, but we cannot fully understand or explain it. We long for hope, for peace, for love, and for joy, but we cannot find them in ourselves or in the world. What we needed was for the Light of the World to take on our darkness and to fill it with his great light.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
That is exactly what happened on the day that Jesus died on the cross. As we read in Matthew 27:45-56, darkness came over the whole land for three hours while Jesus was hanging on the cross. He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It seemed that even God had abandoned him. But then, after he cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. And at that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shook, and the rocks split. The tombs also broke open, and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
This is a strange and mysterious story, but it is also a profound and powerful one. It tells us that Jesus, the Son of God, willingly and lovingly sacrificed himself for us. He took on our sins, our shame, our guilt, our pain, and our death. He bore the punishment that we deserved, so that we could be forgiven, redeemed, and reconciled to God. He defeated the powers of darkness and death, so that we could have eternal life and hope. He demonstrated the greatest love that anyone could ever show, so that we could know and experience the love of God.
The Cross of Christ
The cross of Christ is not just a historical event, a religious symbol, or a sentimental story. It is the ultimate sacrifice that still matters today because it speaks to the deepest and most universal needs of humanity. It tells us that we are not alone in our darkness, that there is a way out of it, and that there is a God who loves us more than we can ever imagine. It challenges us to confront our sin, to confess our need for salvation, and to receive the gift of grace that is freely offered to us.
“The cross tells us that God understands our sin and our suffering, for he took them upon himself in the Person of Jesus Christ. From the cross God declares, ‘I love you. I know the heartaches and the sorrows and the pains that you feel, but I love you. The cross is the only proof I can give.'”
Billy Graham
The cross also tells us that we are called to follow Jesus, to take up our own cross, and to live a life of sacrificial love. It challenges us to renounce our selfishness, our pride, our greed, and our hatred, and to embrace the values of the kingdom of God. It inspires us to serve others, to seek justice, to care for the poor and the oppressed, and to share the good news of salvation with all people.
Conclusion
As we reflect on the cross of Christ, we must also remember that it is not the end of the story. The darkness of Good Friday gives way to the light of Easter Sunday. The death of Jesus leads to the resurrection of Jesus. The ultimate sacrifice leads to the ultimate victory. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory.
