The message of the cross
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (NIV) Galatians 3:13
In all my devotional writings, the messages about the cross have been the most challenging. This is not due to the paucity of materials on this subject or a deficiency in understanding the subject but it is due to the fact it is enshrouded in mystery.
Charles B. Hodge, Jr. in his book The Agony and Glory of the Cross admitted that “The cross is the greatest mystery of God. A little child can drink of it; old men can chew on it. Still, men do not know even a ‘thimbleful’ about it.” However, “where there is no mystery, there is no wonder. Without wonder, there is no real worship. Until you understand the cross, you cannot understand Christianity” (Charles B. Hodge, Jr.).
Death by crucifixion was a capital punishment that was probably invented by the Persians and it was later perfected by the Romans. Crucifixion was the ultimate form of humiliation. The Romans did not crucify their citizens and the Jews absolutely despised it (Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13). Yet for our sake, Jesus Christ, who is the epitome of all righteousness, was treated like the worst criminal in the history of mankind.
The word “excruciating” literally means “out of the cross.” The excruciating pain Jesus suffered can be well understood from the works of Wayne Grudem in his Systematic Theology. In his book, he categorized our Savior’s ordeal into four different aspects:
• Physical pain and death
• The Pain of Bearing Sin
• Abandonment
• Bearing the Wrath of God.