The Cross is Life

The Cross is Life
NO BODY IN THE GRAVE NOW!
Terry R. Baughman

“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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 NKJ).

The cross stood as a symbol of shame, a deserved punishment for violent criminals. It was the favored execution method for slaves and non-citizens of the Roman empire. The victims were sometimes left hanging on display as a graphic warning to others, serving as a deterrent for similar crimes. 

Jesus was certainly not a violent man, rather He was known as the Prince of Peace. He was neither a threat to the Roman armies nor plotting to stage a military coup against the ruling authorities. He was only a threat to religious hypocrisy as He shined the light of truth on the traditions of men and spoke in opposition to the purveyors of false prophecy. He was innocent of every crime and without guilt in every accusation. His greatest offense was found in the accusation of blasphemy. They said He deserved death, “because You, being a Man, make Yourself God” (John 10:33 NKJ). Yet, even that statement was absolutely true. He was God in flesh. John said, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NKJ).

Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor over Judea, was anxious to appease the crowd as he struggled to see what the problem was with Jesus. By his own admission he stated, “I find no fault in Him at all” (John 18:38 NKJ). However, the people in opposition to Jesus were so filled with rage they agitated the crowd to call for His crucifixion. Ultimately, Pilate had the servants bring out a basin of water with which to wash his hands of the matter, and then surrendered Jesus to the religious leaders who were bent on His destruction. 

Though there was plenty of guilt to go around for all those who sought the execution of Jesus, it was also in the plan of God to provide a sacrifice for sin and to fulfill His purpose in coming to this world. He came to redeem humanity of their sins. Jesus said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 NKJ). Jesus tried to prepare His disciples for the event that would take His life. He taught them, “That the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31 NKJ). Only in days to come would they recall these statements and fully understand that Jesus was preparing them for this bitter disappointment. 

Now we look back at the Cross with mixed feelings of sorrow and satisfaction. We recoil in anguish at the tragedy of this brutal method of punishment, but we rejoice in the salvation that was provided us through His sinless sacrifice. His joy was our salvation, so we may also rejoice in the crucifixion because of the redemptive outcome of His passion. To us the empty Cross stands as a symbol of salvation through His victorious resurrection. 

In our Easter theme song by Elevation Worship, the second verse says, “Behold the love, His dying plea, Behold the grace of Calvary, That rugged cross, Soon to be the emblem of a risen King.” The Cross has become an icon of life to those He has redeemed. Its symbol means so much more than death, cruelty, suffering, and pain. It now stands as a bold witness of deliverance from sin and the multitude of changed lives, transformed by the Spirit of the resurrection. 

The song, There’s no Body in the Grave Now, continues with this theme of salvation, “There's only one name that saves, His name is Jesus, … No enemy can hold You down, 'Cause there's nobody in the grave now. One head gets to wear that crown, 'Cause there's nobody in the grave now!” Today, we celebrate life. Our Cross is vacant. The tomb is empty. Jesus lives, He reigns forever, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Cross is Life!

Theme passage:
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:5-6 NIV).