Steven A. Bush - June 7, 2020
The Cross: A Place of Execution; A Place of Substitution
1 Corinthians 1:18 says: "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." (NIV) Crucifixion was the cruelest most shameful form of execution ever devised by man. The Persians are believed to have invented it but the Romans are the ones who perfected its merciless cruelty. To realize that mankind, even the most religious people of the time, chose to nail the very Son of God to a cross, shows the depth of depravity, wickedness, and enmity against our Creator. Why then do we look so reverently upon the cross, despite the worst execution of all time happening there? The cross reminds us: "My sin for His righteousness!" (2 Cor. 5:21) The cross is not only a symbol of execution, it's a symbol of substitution. Our rebellion against God earned that place! But Jesus' love for us took that place! Know this: He took that place for you personally! That's not foolishness--that's powerful! The cross of Christ beautifully depicts the undeserved love of God!