The Story of the Cross

Afterthoughts: Reflections on Cruciform Power

​Unfortunately, I didn't have time to integrate the resurrection into my Scripture reflections on the cross. By the time I sorted out what I wanted to say about the cross itself, the reflection was due and I had to submit it.

​Obviously, if the Lord hadn't risen from the dead, the cross wouldn't mean what it now means. "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" (Rom 4:25). The Lord himself, his ministry and his message would have been invalidated if he had stayed in the grave. So just keep in mind that Christ is risen as you read! And not just risen, of course, but seated at the right hand of the Father as Lord of heaven and earth, making all things new through his Spirit.

To think that the Lamb of God is the Ruler of God's creation. A Suffering Servant King. What a slap in the face for the Powers. And for us too who are lovers of power. But what peace, and what inheritance, for those who inhabit his Story and give highest allegiance to Whom it is due (Ps 2).

I tell you, the gospel is indeed the power of God for our salvation (Rom 1:16). But it's so much so that if it doesn't shake our foundations, we're probably not tracking with God. As John Stackhouse once said: "If you're not overwhelmed, you're not paying attention." Hopefully we're more overwhelmed by God himself than by anything else that might overwhelm us, since there's nothing more overwhelming than him (e.g., Ps 29:4–9; Heb 10:31; 12:18–29), and he's for us (Gen 1; 8:21–22; John 3:16; 2 Pet 3:9).

It's like going through the sea on dry ground, with Pharaoh's army after us. What's more overwhelming, the enemy behind us or God's wonders before us? It's like checking out the promised land to realize that it's full of giants. What now? Will we take it? He said to take it.

He also said to take up our cross if we want to follow him. Will we take it up? "No cross, no crown."

Not to worry though, "God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes" (Phil 2:13 CEB). And he does this through the same Spirit that raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. The power of God indeed.
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You split the sea
So I could walk right through it
You drowned my fears in perfect love
You rescued me
And I will stand and sing...
I am a child of God
​–Bethel Music
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