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Seven Lessons the Cross Teaches
1) The cross demonstrates how much God loves us (John 3:16; 15:13; 1 John 3:16). Could more powerful proof of His love be found anywhere?
2) The cross shows us how sinful sin is. That God would use something so horrible, so degrading as crucifixion shows what a high price tag sin carries. Jesus “bore our sins in his body on the tree . . . . By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
3) The cross teaches absolute obedience. “. . . he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8).
4) The cross displays utter selflessness. Jesus prayed earnestly to be spared the cross, yet He yielded His will to His Father’s will (Matt. 26:36-46). “For Christ did not please himself . . .” (Rom. 15:3).
5) The cross proves that God keeps His promises—even the ones most painful to keep. The prophecies of Jesus’ death (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, etc.) were fulfilled in every detail at Calvary. God always keeps His word.
6) The cross shows that our salvation is of divine origin. Would anyone have ever imagined that the Lord of glory would die as a criminal—spat upon, mocked, rejected? (1 Cor. 1:18, 23; Gal. 3:13)
7) The cross exemplifies what endurance means. “. . . looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Heb. 12:2-3).
The cross has much to teach us—if we will learn.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
