“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3)
Jesus not only became man to save us from our sins, He even gave His life to do so. “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) That fact radically distinguishes the Christian faith from all others. It is central to all early Christian confessions. The Son of God became man and died on a cross. To indicate the absurdity of these facts, Paul writes, “They crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:8) Let that sink in! It is not surprising that the Jews found this an offense and the Greeks considered it foolishness (see 1 Corinthians 1:23). A God being killed by His enemies doesn’t seem very appealing. Such a God seems weak and incapable. But the Bible actually marks Jesus’ death on the cross as victory. By dying, He destroyed the devil, who had power over death (see Hebrews 2:14-15). On the cross, the decisive battle was fought and Jesus was victorious. Therefore, while dying, He cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:29).
Jesus’ death was “in accordance with the Scriptures,” as a crucial part of God’s plan to save mankind from the power of sin and death.
What associations and feelings does the cross evoke in you?