and Pharisees.
Jesus was crucified for his claim to be King. The Jews had understood
that the Messiah would come as king to establish God's reign for them.
They wanted a king who would free them from tyranny and foreign domination.
Many had high hopes that Jesus would be the Messianic king. Little did
they understand what kind of kingship Jesus claimed to have. Jesus came
to conquer hearts and souls for an imperishable kingdom, rather than to
conquer perishable lands and entitlements. We can find no greater proof
of God's love for us than the willing sacrifice of his Son on the cross.
Jesus' parting words, “It is finished!' express triumph rather than
defeat. Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit knowing that the strife
was now over and the battle was won. Even on the cross Jesus knew the joy
of victory. What the Father sent him into the world to do has now been
accomplished.
Christ offered himself without blemish to God and
he put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (see Hebrews
9:24-26).
Augustine (5th century) comments on those who stood at the cross of
Jesus: 'As they were looking on, so we too gaze on his wounds as
he hangs. We see his blood as he dies. We see the price offered by the
redeemer, touch the scars of his resurrection. He bows his head,
as if to kiss you. His heart is made bare open, as it were, in love
to you. His arms are extended that he may embrace you. His whole body is
displayed for your redemption. Ponder how great these things are.
Let all this be rightly weighed in your mind: as he was once fixed to the
cross in every part of his body for you, so he may now be fixed in every
part of your soul.' [GMI 248]
In the cross of Christ we see the triumph of Jesus over his enemies
– sin, Satan, and death. Christian writers down through the centuries
have sung the praises of the Cross of Christ. Paul the Apostle exclaimed,
'But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ'
(Galatians
6:14). Hear what Gregory Nazianzen, a 6th century church father, has to
say: 'Many indeed are the wondrous happenings of that time: God hanging
from a cross, the sun made dark and again flaming out; for it was fitting
that creation should mourn with its creator. The temple veil rent, blood
and water flowing from his side: the one as from a man, the other as from
what was above man; the earth shaken, the rocks shattered because of the
rock; the dead risen to bear witness to the final and universal resurrection
of the dead. The happenings at the sepulcher and after the sepulcher, who
can fittingly recount them? Yet no one of them can be compared to the miracle
of my salvation. A few drops of blood renew the whole world, and do for
all men what the rennet does for the milk: joining us and binding us together.
[On the Holy Pasch, Oration 45.1]
Abbot Rupert of Deutz, wrote in the early 12th century: 'The cross of
Christ is the door to heaven, the key to paradise, the downfall of the
devil, the uplifting of mankind, the consolation of our imprisonment, the
prize for our freedom.' The Cross of Christ is the safeguard of our faith,
the assurance of our hope, and the throne of love. It is also the sign
of God's mercy and the proof of forgiveness. By his cross Jesus Christ
has pardoned us and set us free from the tyranny of sin. He paid the price
for us when he made atonement for our sins. The way to peace, joy, and
righteousness in the kingdom of God and the way to victory over sin and
corruption, fear and defeat, despair and death is through the cross of
Jesus Christ. Do you follow Jesus in his way of the cross with joy, hope,
and confidence?
'Lord Jesus Christ, by your death on the cross you have won pardon for
us and freedom from the tyranny of sin and death. May I live in the joy
and freedom of your victory over sin and death.'
This reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager, whose website is located at: http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/'>Meditation: The cross brings us face to face with Jesus' suffering.
He was alone – all his disciples had deserted him except for his mother
and three women along with John, the beloved disciple. And his death was
agonizing and humiliating. Normally a crucified man could last for several
days on a cross. Jesus' had already been scourged, beaten with rods, and
a crown of thorns pressed into his skull. It is no wonder that he died
mid-afternoon. Pilate publicly heralded Jesus 'The King of the Jews'
as he died upon the cross, no doubt to irritate and annoy the chief priests
and Pharisees.
Jesus was crucified for his claim to be King. The Jews had understood
that the Messiah would come as king to establish God's reign for them.
They wanted a king who would free them from tyranny and foreign domination.
Many had high hopes that Jesus would be the Messianic king. Little did
they understand what kind of kingship Jesus claimed to have. Jesus came
to conquer hearts and souls for an imperishable kingdom, rather than to
conquer perishable lands and entitlements. We can find no greater proof
of God's love for us than the willing sacrifice of his Son on the cross.
Jesus' parting words, “It is finished!' express triumph rather than
defeat. Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit knowing that the strife
was now over and the battle was won. Even on the cross Jesus knew the joy
of victory. What the Father sent him into the world to do has now been
accomplished.
Christ offered himself without blemish to God and
he put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (see Hebrews
9:24-26).
Augustine (5th century) comments on those who stood at the cross of
Jesus: 'As they were looking on, so we too gaze on his wounds as
he hangs. We see his blood as he dies. We see the price offered by the
redeemer, touch the scars of his resurrection. He bows his head,
as if to kiss you. His heart is made bare open, as it were, in love
to you. His arms are extended that he may embrace you. His whole body is
displayed for your redemption. Ponder how great these things are.
Let all this be rightly weighed in your mind: as he was once fixed to the
cross in every part of his body for you, so he may now be fixed in every
part of your soul.' [GMI 248]
In the cross of Christ we see the triumph of Jesus over his enemies
– sin, Satan, and death. Christian writers down through the centuries
have sung the praises of the Cross of Christ. Paul the Apostle exclaimed,
'But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ'
(Galatians
6:14). Hear what Gregory Nazianzen, a 6th century church father, has to
say: 'Many indeed are the wondrous happenings of that time: God hanging
from a cross, the sun made dark and again flaming out; for it was fitting
that creation should mourn with its creator. The temple veil rent, blood
and water flowing from his side: the one as from a man, the other as from
what was above man; the earth shaken, the rocks shattered because of the
rock; the dead risen to bear witness to the final and universal resurrection
of the dead. The happenings at the sepulcher and after the sepulcher, who
can fittingly recount them? Yet no one of them can be compared to the miracle
of my salvation. A few drops of blood renew the whole world, and do for
all men what the rennet does for the milk: joining us and binding us together.
[On the Holy Pasch, Oration 45.1]
Abbot Rupert of Deutz, wrote in the early 12th century: 'The cross of
Christ is the door to heaven, the key to paradise, the downfall of the
devil, the uplifting of mankind, the consolation of our imprisonment, the
prize for our freedom.' The Cross of Christ is the safeguard of our faith,
the assurance of our hope, and the throne of love. It is also the sign
of God's mercy and the proof of forgiveness. By his cross Jesus Christ
has pardoned us and set us free from the tyranny of sin. He paid the price
for us when he made atonement for our sins. The way to peace, joy, and
righteousness in the kingdom of God and the way to victory over sin and
corruption, fear and defeat, despair and death is through the cross of
Jesus Christ. Do you follow Jesus in his way of the cross with joy, hope,
and confidence?
'Lord Jesus Christ, by your death on the cross you have won pardon for
us and freedom from the tyranny of sin and death. May I live in the joy
and freedom of your victory over sin and death.'
This reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager, whose website is located at: http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/
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