I thank Lord Jesus for his abundant mercies to help me continue to write this 50th Blog Post. All praise, honor and glory to Lord Jesus Christ who gave me the wisdom, his holy spirit to guide me what to write every week. I dedicate this 50th Blog to Jesus Christ, by writing “Power of Cross” as he is the center of “The Way”,
We see many people wear a Cross chain, some use it as a fashion chain / clothing, some wear it to show the identity that I am Christian, some really believe there is power in cross to keep away evil things / spirits, some use that for reciting the prayer. So, what is this Cross and what is the power of the cross that makes it unique that it can transform person’s life.
The cross was used by Romans to crucify people of the bad crimes, but the cross got its power because of Jesus, who was crucified for our sins.
There is a power in the cross of Christ, in his death, burial and resurrection to change lives for all of us. That’s what it’s all about. That’s THE story of the cross. But if you don’t understand the Power and the message of Cross it may look “foolishness” (Like how we use this as fashion chain / clothing etc..)
'For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ' 1 Corinthians 1:18
I pray to God let each you be transformed to get the Power of God as you read this “Power of Cross”
To understand this power, we need to know what Jesus experienced in Cross to know the power of Cross, to know this better you need to read Matthew 27 in full and Mark 15 in Full, both these chapters give us more details. Matthew 27:45 we see the second half of Jesus’ ordeal on the cross. Here we will see the power of the cross. In the latter three hours, from noon until 3:00 p.m., the focus is on the supernatural.
There were a series of events that happened that makes us see the power of the cross as the sky became dark, Jesus cried out, He gave up His spirit, the temple veil was torn, the earth was shaken, the dead were raised, and the centurion was convinced.
Redeem us from Darkness
'From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ' Matthew 27:45
When Jesus was in the cross, about Noon time the entire place became dark, imagine what that must have been like! Imagine the crowds that condemned Jesus, those who stood and mocked him gripped with fear what will happen when they see the darkness.
Though the Bible doesn’t specifically state the purpose of this darkness, but this darkness signified God’s judgment for the sin of mankind and his sorrow at the sacrifice of his beloved Son Jesus on the Cross.
What does this mean for us?
It means we have a Saviour who took our darkness, so that we might be people of the light. Like how we read - 'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ' 1 Peter 2:9
The cross has the power to take dark areas of our life, something deep that none knows. Jesus has conquered the darkness to show the light to us to take them away for us.
Never Forsaken Saviour
'About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ). ' Matthew 27:46
After the "darkness" filled the sky for three hours, "at the ninth hour" or 3:00 p.m., "Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’" Matthew interprets these Hebrew and Aramaic words for us. They mean "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"
Jesus was speaking the words of Psalm 22:1, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
On the cross, God the Son was forsaken, separated from God the Father. For the only time in history, Jesus was not one with his Father. Jesus was taking the sin of the world upon Himself. Jesus was covered with the wretched filth of every sin of every man of Adam’s race. In his holiness, the Father seemingly turned His face away from His sin-coated Son.
We can only say for certain what the Scriptures say.
'He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.' Romans 4:25
'God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ 2 Corinthians 5:21
'But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. ' Isaiah 53:5
Jesus not only suffered the excruciating physical pain on the cross, but He also endured the incomprehensible suffering of being separated from his Father as he bore our sin.
What does this mean for us?
It means that because Jesus was forsaken on the cross, we will never be forsaken. As his promise says
'Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” ' Hebrews 13:5
He gave up his spirit for us
'And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 'Matthew 27:50
Jesus’ life did not slip away from him as he grew weaker and weaker on the cross. Jesus did not die, but in the strength of a loud voice, He "gave up His Spirit”, “Gave up" comes from a word that means "letting go or sending away, indicating an act of the will." Jesus knew he had paid the price for our sin. He knew the time was at hand. He had suffered enough. He willingly gave up his spirit.
Crucifixions usually lasted much longer than six hours. Sometimes it took days. When Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus’ body, Mark tells us the governor "was surprised to hear that he was already dead" (Mark 15:44) and sent a centurion to verify the information.
Jesus was no victim on the cross. He was the victor! Hanging on that cross, Jesus still held sovereign control over the whole scene.
What does this mean for us?
Because Jesus gave his life and took it up again, He also has the power to give life to all who come to him. 'For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. ' John 5:21
Because Jesus gave his life, he has prepared us an eternal place in heaven where there will be no death no mourning no suffering, after we perish from the world '‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ' Revelation 21:4
Veil was torn
'At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split ' Matthew 27:51
Matthew says, 'At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom’ The inner sanctuary of the Temple, the Holy of Holies, was divided from the outer sanctuary by a large woven veil or curtain some 60 feet high, 30 feet wide and as thick as the palm of your hand. This was torn in two
Look how it was torn: "from top to bottom." It was as though a large sword from heaven had been dropped upon it, as if God Himself reached down from heaven and ripped it in two. It was torn "from top to bottom" because God tore it, not man.
There was no longer a need for a veil or a high priest to offer a sacrifice in that man-made temple.
Because the veil is torn, we have access to the very presence of God and we can come to Him with confidence through the blood of Jesus.
What does this mean for us?
We have open access to the Father through Jesus.
We are a people of grace because we have received grace! we have access to Jesus thru the Holy Spirit of father; we don’t need to enter God’s presence thru any high priest.
We have hope that Jesus can enter our soul and be with us for ever, there need not be any high priest to tell us what Sins we make, since Jesus resides and directs our Soul, the soul condemns us of the Sins we make and make us walk a blameless and upright life that’s pleasing to Jesus
'We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, ' Hebrews 6:19
'Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 'Hebrews 7:27
The Dead raised
'and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. ' Matthew 27:52-53
The power of cross is to break the tombs that were made from big rock stones, earth to have an earthquake
This proved death was defeated in cross and also gives us the hope / faith that we have a eternal life to live in heaven for ever.
This provided only in Christ we can come alive.
'For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ' 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
What does this mean for us?
This gives us the preview of what we are to see in when Jesus comes
'I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ' Revelation 20:4
Centurion Was Convinced
'When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” ' Matthew 27:54
A "Centurion" was a Roman officer given charge over 100 men. Maybe they were among those who mocked him and put a crown of thorns on His head. And they were the ones who drove the nails in His hands and feet and gambled for His clothing.
There is no miracle greater than when God transforms any person from a hardened sinner to a humble saint. Perhaps the greatest evidence of Jesus’ work on the cross was that those who started the day abusing Him finished the day adoring Him.
Jesus allows this abuser to testify him “Surely he was the Son of God!”
What does this mean for us?
This tells us the power of transformation in Jesus, he can transform any hard person who is tough to crack, in him there is power of salvation
Closing remarks
That is the story of the cross, it meant for you and me be assured as you wear a cross there is power of Jesus to transform us thru the power of the cross, if you are a Christian
Be thankful as John says that we have Jesus who died for our sins
'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ' John 3:16
Be thankful as we have a “Abba, father” whom we can cry out to.
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “ Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NIV
If you are not in Christ or do not follow Christ, now you know the power of Cross that can redeem you from the deadliest sin you may have committed, All it takes is to just a simple act of faith to say ”I believe you Jesus come and wash my sins and take control of me”