Do you wear a cross? Many people do – some just as a
popular piece of jewelry with no thought of the meaning, but others with
much more meaning. This Lent I am not asking that you wear a cross, but
that you wear THE cross, the cross of Christ. Do you carry with you the
cross of Christ, not as a necklace but as a way of life – that His cross
is the first thing you turn to and the first thing other people see.
Just as there are many artistic styles of crosses to wear,
there are some special ways of looking – and wearing – the cross of
Christ. This meditation is about the Cross of Forgiveness. Saint
Paul always had the cross of Christ on display. He said, "I resolved to
know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."
(I Cor 2:2) Just as people look at what you wear, Paul says to "put on
Christ." I can think of nothing better to put on than the cross of Christ
that is forgiveness. Of all the impressions that others could have of you,
what if they took home this one lasting impression…that you showed them
the forgiveness of Jesus…that they could make mistakes around you, but
what overcame all sins was the forgiveness of Jesus.
Jesus came not primarily to teach, although he did much
teaching. He did not primarily come to lead, although he did much leading.
Jesus came to shed his blood on the cross to give us forgiveness. His
blood, far surpassing all the blood of lambs sacrificed in the Old
Testament, brought us forgiveness with God. Forgiveness means "release".
Release from the punishment and the guilt of our sin. With his life he
showed people that he had authority on earth to forgive sins (Luke 5:24),
and with his death he gained forgiveness for all who call upon him,
confessing their sins. The cross of forgiveness needs to be close to us.
Put it on.
We live in a world that cries out for forgiveness. People
sin every day – good old down to earth people and people in high places.
We all say and do things that call for forgiveness. We see the high
profile sins on the news, but closer to home we see our own sin make a
mess of our lives. Jesus holds out his cross! We try to mask our sins with
flimsy excuses, but only the cross will work. Try as you might to "make it
up" to others by doing something nice for them, but the damage is done. I
know of nothing else that heals like the forgiveness of Jesus.
His forgiveness heals the heart of the sinner…and by his
amazing grace also the heart of the one who forgives. You see, forgiveness
is not just between you and God, but also between you and others too.
Jesus did something very important and unique with his forgiveness – he
tied his forgiveness to our forgiveness. "If you forgive men when they sin
against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you." Jesus even made
this connection as part of the most well known prayer among Christians.
This tells us that Christians not only have his command to forgive but
also the incentive to forgive. How important do you think it is for us to
be wearing this cross?
I’ve seen this cross of forgiveness work between two
Christians who had said the wrong things to each other. They could have
easily just let human nature take over, get mad and stomp off. They could
have let spite and pride rule and finally lose all ties of friendship. But
when one of them held out the cross they both saw how horrible they were
acting. They also saw how gracious and forgiving the Lord is. Only then
did forgiveness happen. Christ’s forgiveness was stronger than poorly
spoken words, judgmental attitudes or careless action. His forgiveness is
stronger than our sin. If you believe that then wear the cross. Jesus
"wore" it in a much different way 2000 years ago, and because of his dying
on the cross the Father is ready to forgive you even when he has every
right not to. Out of extravagant love God sent his son to die so that
through Christ we might be forgiven…and that we might forgive.
