The Cross
The Symbol of the Cross
Isaiah 53
"Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been
revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no
form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from
whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by
God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the Lord has laid
on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the
slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he
was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no
violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering
for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his
hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous
one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the
sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors."
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This morning, as I prayed for discernment and to hear the Lord's voice more clearly, I was led to Isaiah 53. The imagery in this passage overwhelmed me. The cross is not just a symbol or a tree-it's the ultimate picture of God's love. While many of us know this truth, I felt the Lord drawing me deeper into its significance. As I meditated on the passage, I envisioned Jesus on the cross, His arms stretched wide. In that image, I saw mercy-a mercy that welcomes everyone into the Kingdom of God, just as they are. His mercy is boundless, reaching as far as the East is from the West. It is by His blood and His outstretched hands that we are covered with grace and forgiveness. Mercy and Justice in Perfect Harmony. The cross stands at the intersection of mercy and justice, two attributes of God that are often misunderstood as opposites. Yet, God is the perfect embodiment of both.
God's Mercy
Mercy is the compassionate heart of God toward His creation. It is His willingness to forgive, restore, and welcome us despite our shortcomings. The cross is the ultimate act of mercy-Jesus bore our sins so we could stand before God blameless. Mercy means that no matter how far we've strayed, God's arms are always open to us. Through Christ, we are invited to approach the throne of grace boldly. It's not something we earn; it's a gift freely given. His mercy is a reminder that His love for us is greater than any mistake we could ever make.
God's Justice
Justice, on the other hand, is God's holiness in action. It ensures that wrongs are made right, that evil does not prevail, and that sin is dealt with. Justice is not contrary to mercy-it is its partner. Without justice, mercy would have no depth; without mercy, justice would have no hope. At the cross, justice was not abandoned-it was fulfilled. Jesus bore the punishment for our sins, satisfying the demands of justice so that we could be reconciled to God. His sacrifice shows us that God doesn't ignore sin; He addresses it head-on, yet provides a way for redemption. God's Nature: "Both-And" Too often, we think of God as being one thing or another, but He is both. He is merciful and just, compassionate and holy, gentle and powerful. These attributes are not contradictions; they are complementary facets of His divine nature.
Throughout scripture, we see this duality:
- He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.
- He is Lion and Lamb, the Conqueror and the Sacrifice.
- He is Yahweh, I AM, embodying every name and role we need Him to fulfill.
God's mercy stretches to the ends of the earth, offering grace and forgiveness to anyone who seeks Him. At the same time, His justice goes to the depths of the earth and beyond, ensuring that sin and evil are defeated. The cross is where these truths meet-a place where mercy flows freely, and justice is satisfied.
Remember the Cross
The next time you look at the cross, remember this: it is for you. It is a symbol of boundless love, unending mercy, and unwavering justice. Jesus fought-and continues to fight-for you. In His mercy, He welcomes you with open arms. In His justice, He ensures that no obstacle can separate you from His love. Don't give up.